उत्सव (utsav)

noun A single-sense noun meaning a festival or celebratory occasion -- a formal, somewhat elevated word for a joyous public or community event.
Sense 1 : festival, celebration
noun, masculine
Synonyms: त्योहार (tyohaar), जश्न (jashn), पर्व (parv, formal)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You will see उत्सव (utsav) on banners and invitation cards more than in casual chat -- it has a slightly formal, official ring, the kind of word a school principal or a news anchor uses, whereas friends chatting about दिवाली (divaalii) or होली (holii) plans will almost always just say त्योहार (tyohaar).
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for उत्सव (utsav) as their default word for 'festival,' but त्योहार (tyohaar) is the everyday word for calendar festivals like दिवाली (divaalii); उत्सव (utsav) fits better for organized celebratory events (a school function, an inauguration, an anniversary gathering) than for a religious/seasonal festival itself, though the two overlap in speech. 2) It combines freely as the second half of compound nouns -- वार्षिकोत्सव (vaarshikotsav, 'annual celebration'), स्वतंत्रता उत्सव (svatantrtaa utsav, 'independence celebration') -- so learners should expect to meet it stitched onto other words, not just standing alone.
Sample Sentences:
स्कूल में हर साल वार्षिक उत्सव मनाया जाता है। The annual festival is celebrated every year at the school.
(skool men har saal vaarshik utsav manaayaa jaataa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
इस बार का सांस्कृतिक उत्सव बहुत भव्य था। This time's cultural festival was very grand.
(is baar kaa saanskritik utsav bahut bhavy thaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
मुख्य अतिथि ने उत्सव का उद्घाटन किया। The chief guest inaugurated the festival.
(mukhy atithi ne utsav kaa udghaatan kiyaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
कृपया आगामी उत्सव में अपनी उपस्थिति सुनिश्चित करें। Please ensure your presence at the upcoming festival.
(kripyaa aagaamii utsav men apnii upasthiti sunishchit karen।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
यदि सरकार अनुमति देती तो शहर में भव्य उत्सव होता। If the government had given permission, there would have been a grand festival in the city.
(yadi sarkaar anumti detii to shahar men bhavy utsav hotaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
प्रधानाचार्य ने घोषणा की कि यह उत्सव पूरे राज्य में प्रसिद्ध हो जाएगा। The principal announced that this festival would become famous throughout the state.
(pradhaanaachaary ne ghoshnaa kii ki yah utsav poore raajy men prasiddh ho jaaegaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
समिति चाहती है कि उत्सव इस बार और भी शानदार हो। The committee wants the festival to be even more magnificent this time.
(samiti chaahtii hai ki utsav is baar aur bhii shaandaar ho।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
पूरा परिसर उत्सव की तैयारियों में डूबा हुआ है। The entire campus is immersed in preparations for the festival.
(pooraa parisar utsav kii taiyaariyon men doobaa huaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
समाचार पत्र में उत्सव की तस्वीरें छपी हैं। Pictures of the festival have been printed in the newspaper.
(samaachaar patr men utsav kii tasviiren chhapii hain।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
उत्सव में भाग लेने के लिए दूर-दूर से लोग आए थे। People had come from far and wide to take part in the festival.
(utsav men bhaag lene ke lie door-door se log aae the।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): उत्सव (utsav)
(sg.m.oblique): उत्सव (utsav)
(pl.m.direct): उत्सव (utsav)
(pl.m.oblique): उत्सवों (utsvon)