Art & Culture Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
The Chavang Kut Festival, a post-harvest celebration of the Chin-Kuki-Mizo communities, is observed every year on November 1 across Manipur. The festival marks the end of the harvesting season and expresses thanksgiving to the almighty for a good harvest. Chavang Kut was declared a State Holiday in 1982 due to its cultural significance. The festival symbolizes gratitude, unity, and harmony between humans and nature.

Notes:
103 punch-marked gold coins from the Vijayanagara era were unearthed at the Later Chola-era Shiva temple in Kovilur hamlet, near Jamunamarathur village, Jawadhu Hills, Tiruvannamalai district, Tamil Nadu. The coins were found during restoration work worth ₹2.5 crore undertaken by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department. Revenue and police officials secured the find; the coins will be assessed by Tamil Nadu State Archaeology Department (TNSAD) before being handed to the district treasury under the Indian Treasure Trove Act, 1878. The discovery reflects the temple-building and revival initiatives during the reign of Krishnadevaraya of the Vijayanagara Empire.

Notes:
The 9th Ganga Utsav was celebrated by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, focusing on partnership and people’s participation for river rejuvenation. Two key publications—“Status of Waterbirds in the Ganga River Basin” and “Status of Island Nesting Report”—were released to assess ecological health. At Amity University, Noida, the theme “Voices and Rhythms of River: Technical and Cultural Expressions” highlighted data-driven and LiDAR-based river management. Resources like “Preventing Solid Waste Flow into Water”, “The Colors of Ganga”, and LiDAR Data Release for Riverathon 1.0 were launched.

Notes:
In November 2025, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) banned tourist entry into the ‘Nata Mandap’ of the Konark Sun Temple in Puri district, Odisha. The Konark Sun Temple is located on the coastline of Odisha. It is also known as Surya Devalaya and is dedicated to the Hindu Sun God, Surya. Historical texts show that King Narasimha I of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty built it around 1250 CE.

Notes:
Recently, the Assam Chief Minister went to London to start the process of bringing back the sacred Vrindavani Vastra from the British Museum. Vrindavani Vastra is a 400-year-old Assamese textile depicting Lord Krishna’s childhood stories and divine acts in Vrindavan. It is woven in silk using the complex ‘lampas’ technique that requires two weavers working together. It uses many coloured threads like red, white, black, yellow, and green. It was created under Srimanta Sankardeva on the request of Koch king Nara Narayan. Nara Narayan had sheltered Sankardeva when he was targeted by the Ahom kingdom.

Notes:
Himachal Pradesh’s Raulane Festival preserves the ancient faith and traditions of Kinnaur district. It is a 5,000-year-old festival honoring mystical celestial fairies called Saunis. Key ritual involves two men dressed as a symbolic groom (Raula) and bride (Raulane) in traditional Kinnauri woollens. The Raula and Raulane procession moves to Nagin Narayan Temple. They perform a slow, devotional dance symbolizing a connection between humans and the divine. The festival reflects Kinnaur’s rich cultural heritage and enduring spiritual practices.

Notes:
The famous Karthigai Deepam festival began at Sri Arunachaleshwar Temple in Tiruvannamalai. The ten-day festival is held during the Tamil month of Karthigai and attracts huge public participation. Karthigai Deepam festival is primarily celebrated in Tamil Nadu.

Notes:
Ponduru Khadi, a traditional handspun and handwoven cotton fabric from Andhra Pradesh, has recently been granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Geographical Indications Registry under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Ponduru Khadi is locally known as Patnulu and is produced exclusively in Ponduru village of Srikakulam district, reflecting the region’s rich textile heritage. The fabric has also been nominated under the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme for Srikakulam district, highlighting its economic and cultural importance.

Notes:
Madhya Pradesh is developing a unique sustainability plan for the Simhastha Kumbh 2028 in Ujjain, with the goal of making the event environmentally responsible and eligible for carbon credits. The Kumbh is expected to attract nearly 30 crore pilgrims, requiring systems to manage the massive footfall while reducing environmental impact, improving hygiene, and ensuring safety. The Simhastha Kumbh Mela is a Hindu religious festival held every 12 years in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. It is called “Simhastha” because the festival occurs when Jupiter (Brihaspati) enters the Leo constellation (Simha Rashi).

Notes:
The Department of Posts recently transported a priceless Thanjavur painting of Shri Ram from Bengaluru to Ayodhya via Logistics Post. Thanjavur (Tanjore) paintings originate from Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, around 1600 AD, flourishing under the Nayakas of Thanjavur. It is created on wooden panels (palagai padam), usually jackfruit or teak, affixed with canvas and bound with Arabic gum. It is known for vibrant colors, including bright red, blue, green, and extensive gold leafwork.