Art & Culture Current Affairs MCQs

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Thousands of devotees recently witnessed the grand consecration of the Subramanya Swamy Temple in Tiruchendur after 16 years. The temple is dedicated to Lord Murugan, son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. It is located in Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu. It is one of the six sacred abodes of Lord Murugan and the only one situated on the seashore. The temple faces the Bay of Bengal and is touched by waves from the Gulf of Mannar. It is over 2,000 years old and showcases beautiful Tamil architecture.

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The three-day Sakambari festival began on July 7, 2025, at Kanaka Durga Temple on Indrakeeladri hill, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. The presiding deity is decorated as Sakambari Devi, goddess of nourishment and vegetation, using vegetables, fruits, green leaves, and flowers. The festival is observed every year from ‘Ashada Shuddha Trayodashi’ to ‘Ashada Pournami’, aligned with the farming season.

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The Behdienkhlam festival recently celebrated in Jowai, Meghalaya with vibrant celebrations and religious devotion by the Pnar (Jaintia) community. It is the most important indigenous religious festival of the Jaintias tribe. and is celebrated annually in mid-July after the sowing season. ‘Behdienkhlam’ means “driving away the plague or pestilence” using sticks.

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Delhi Chief Minister recently warned that no nuisance will be tolerated during the Kanwar Yatra, after glass shards were found on the yatra route in Shahdara. Kanwar Yatra is a yearly Hindu pilgrimage during the month of Shravan (July–August). Devotees called Kanwariyas collect Gangajal (holy Ganga water) from places like Haridwar, Gangotri, Gaumukh, and Ajgaivinath (Bihar). They carry it in Kanwars—bamboo poles with pots hanging on both sides—on their shoulders. The water is offered to Lord Shiva in temples like Kashi Vishwanath, Baba Baidyanath (Jharkhand), and 12 Jyotirlingas.

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Harela festival is celebrated in Uttarakhand, with a pledge to plant over 5 lakh saplings across the state. This traditional Hindu festival, also celebrated in parts of Himachal Pradesh, is especially popular in Uttarakhand’s Kumaon region. Harela marks the beginning of the Sawan season. It symbolizes peace, prosperity, and the celebration of nature.

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Recently, more than 300 people were killed in a week of violent clashes between Syria’s Druze minority and Sunni Bedouin tribes in and around Sweida city. The Bedouins are nomadic, Arabic-speaking tribes who have lived in the Middle East and North Africa deserts for centuries. The word Bedouin comes from Arabic “badawi”, meaning “desert dweller”. They survive mainly by herding camels, sheep, and goats, moving seasonally across arid lands. Bedouin tribes are often classified based on the animal species they herd.

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Recently, the Saaral Vizha 2025 was celebrated in Courtallam, Tamil Nadu as a monsoon festival highlighting culture, tradition, and community welfare. It was inaugurated by Revenue Minister K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran. The festival featured cultural performances, a flower exhibition, and various public competitions. The festival reflects Tamil Nadu’s commitment to inclusive cultural growth and community participation.

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Lungphun Ropui in Lianpui village, Champhai district, Mizoram, was officially declared a Monument of National Importance by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on July 14, 2025. This is the second site in Mizoram to receive this recognition. The declaration came after a site visit on July 7, 2025 by ASI Director (Monuments) A.M.V. Subramanyam. The site is protected under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. Known for its ancient menhirs (carved stone structures), it reflects early Mizo life, rituals, and beliefs.

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On 21st July 2025, a replica of the Ashoka Pillar was unveiled at Waskaduwa Sri Subhuthi Viharaya in Kalutara district, Southern Province, Sri Lanka. The replica was fully sponsored by H.E. Kyabje Ling Rinpoche, a top spiritual leader in Tibetan Buddhism. The foundation stone was laid on 28 January 2024 by Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Shri Santosh Jha and Venerable Shartse Khensur Jangchup Choeden Rinpoche, Secretary General of International Buddhist Confederation (IBC). The pillar honors Emperor Ashoka for introducing Buddhism to Sri Lanka through his children Arhat Mahinda Thero and Arhat Sangamitta Therani. The temple was chosen as it houses authentic Kapilavastu relics of Lord Buddha.

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Recently, Nashik rural police exposed a major black-marketing racket involving darshan passes at the famous Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple. The Trimbakeshwar Temple is a revered Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in Trimbak town, 28 km from Nashik city, Maharashtra. It is situated near Brahamagiri mountain, the origin point of the river Godavari. The temple was built by the third Peshwa Balaji Bajirao on the site of an older shrine. It is one of the twelve sacred Jyotirlingas in India, making it a significant pilgrimage site.