HistoryMedieval India: An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara

Which of the following statements about the festival linked with the…

Which of the following statements about the festival linked with the mahanavami dibba is NOT correct?

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 1

The correct answer is Option (1) → Mahanavami literally means the great tenth day.

Option (1) Mahanavami literally means the great tenth day. — False. Mahanavami literally means the great ninth day. The tenth day is the last day of the festival.

Option (2) It is known as Dusehra in northern India. — True. The same festival is called Dusehra in northern India.

Option (3) Its rituals at the dibba probably coincided with Mahanavami. — True. The rituals of the dibba probably fell on Mahanavami, a day of this festival.

Option (4) It was a ten-day Hindu festival. — True. The festival lasted ten days and came in the autumn months.

NCERT (2026-27): “4.1 The mahanavami dibba …
Located on one of the highest points in the city, the “mahanavami dibba” is a massive platform rising from a base of about 11,000 sq. ft to a height of 40 ft. There is evidence that it supported a wooden structure. The base of the platform is covered with relief carvings (Fig. 7.12).”

“Rituals associated with the structure probably coincided with Mahanavami (literally, the great ninth day) of the ten-day Hindu festival during the autumn months of September and October, known variously as Dusehra (northern India), Durga Puja (in Bengal)”