Art & Culture Current Affairs MCQs

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Devotees nationwide are gathering at Assam’s Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati for the annual Ambubachi Mela. The Kamakhya Temple, one of India’s 51 Shaktipeeths, is located atop Nilachal Hills and is dedicated to Goddess Kamakhya, a form of Goddess Parvati. The Ambubachi Mela celebrates the goddess’s annual menstruation. The temple’s architecture uniquely combines the traditional Nagara and Mughal styles, known as the Nilachala Style.

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Kalamkari art, a once-flourishing hand-painted or block-printed cotton textile tradition, now struggles due to power looms and rising raw material costs. Practiced in Andhra Pradesh, Kalamkari originated in the Tilang region (now Andhra Pradesh and Telangana) during the 16-17th century under the Qutb Shahis of Golconda. The term “Kalamkari” combines “Kalam” (pen) and “Kari” (craftsmanship). It features two distinct styles: Srikalahasti and Pedana.

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Exploring the Chandravalli cave complex in Karnataka, also known as Ankali Math, reveals a historical site with multiple chambers including a puja area with a shivlinga. Excavations uncovered artifacts from the Hoysala, Satavahana, and Vijayanagara dynasties, and a rock inscription from the Kadamba dynasty. The site shows connections to Rome and China through discovered coins and features paintings done in organic paint.

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A geospatial analysis using satellite images and ground surveys revealed “huge architectural wealth” buried in the Mahabodhi temple complex in Bodh Gaya, Bihar. The Mahabodhi Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2002, marks the Buddha’s Enlightenment spot. Built by Emperor Asoka in the 3rd century B.C., the current structure dates to the 5th-6th centuries and is a key example of early brick architecture and sculptural reliefs.

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The anti-encroachment drive at Vishalgad Fort turned violent as miscreants attacked local shopkeepers and pelted stones at police. Vishalgad Fort, located in Kolhapur district, Maharashtra, is an ancient fort built in 1058 by Shilahara king Marsinh. It was later captured by various dynasties, including the Yadavas, Khiljis, Vijayanagar, and Adil Shahi. In 1659, Shivaji seized it and renamed it Vishalgad, meaning “grand fort.”

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The Sangameshwara Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, has recently been submerged in the backwaters of the Srisailam project in Nandyal district due to heavy inflow from the Krishna River. Located in Andhra Pradesh, the temple was originally built in 740 AD by Chalukya ruler Pulakesin II on the Krishna River bank. It was originally situated where the Tungabhadra and Krishna Rivers merge, 10 km from its current location. To prevent submersion from the Srisailam Dam’s construction, the temple was dismantled and rebuilt at its current site in 1979, maintaining its historical and religious significance.

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On July 29, 2024, Delhi unveiled India’s first sunken museum at the UNESCO World Heritage site, Humayun’s Tomb. This innovative museum will offer a unique view of Mughal history and architecture by integrating advanced technology with historical displays. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has spearheaded the project in collaboration with various stakeholders, aiming to enhance the preservation and presentation of India’s rich historical legacy.

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The Assam government is planning a grand Jhumur dance performance with 8,000 tea tribe artists. Jhumur is a traditional dance of Assam’s tea tribes, performed during autumn. It features young girls dancing in fields or under trees, with male members playing instruments like the Madal drum, flute, and Taals. The dance depicts daily life, joys, sorrows, and aspirations, and serves as recreation, ritual worship, courting, and prayer for rain.

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Project PARI was launched during the 46th Session of the World Heritage Committee Meeting. The Ministry of Culture initiated the project, managed by Lalit Kala Akademi and the National Gallery of Modern Art. It features various art forms including Phad, Thangka, Warli, Gond, Alpona, Cheriyal, Tanjore, Kalamkari, Pithora, and Kerala Murals. The project aims to celebrate and enhance the public art scene by combining India’s cultural heritage with modern themes.

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Archaeologists recently uncovered a 2,700-year-old Etruscan cult temple at the Sasso Pinzuto necropolis in Tuscany, Italy, shedding light on the ancient Etruscan civilization. This discovery, which includes over 120 chamber tombs, highlights the cultural and architectural significance of the Etruscans, who flourished in central Italy from the 8th to 3rd centuries BCE. The Etruscan temples, built on elevated tuff foundations, often featured polychrome clay slabs with religious reliefs.