Art & Culture Current Affairs MCQs

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The world’s first 52-foot Mahamrityunjaya Yantra has been installed at Tapovan Ashram, Jhunsi Havelis, Prayagraj, a sacred Maha Kumbh site. The Yantra is a spiritual marvel believed to connect devotees with the higher consciousness of Lord Shiva. It symbolizes “Victory over Death,” helping individuals overcome fears of death, disease, and danger. The Yantra enhances courage, positivity, and spiritual energy among devotees. This monumental installation holds immense significance for spiritual seekers and devotees of Lord Shiva.

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Nepal organized its first three-day International Pashmina Festival to highlight Chyangra Pashmina, sourced from Pashmina goats. Nepal is a major producer of authentic Pashmina, known for its high quality. The wool is hand-combed, hand-spun, and woven using traditional methods with natural dyes and embroidery. The exhibition featured 150 stalls, including 40 showcasing pure Nepali Pashmina. Nepali Pashmina competes internationally, with strong markets in the US, Japan, and Europe. Challenges include raw material supply and the need for policy improvements to expand the market. Fake and blended Pashmina pose a challenge globally, especially in India.

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Nagoba Jatara is an eight-day tribal festival of the Mesram clan of Gond tribes, celebrated in Keslapur village, Adilabad district, Telangana. It is the second-largest tribal festival in India, after the Sammakka Saralamma Jatara. Tribal people from Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Karnataka, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh also participate. The festival’s deity is ‘Nagoba’ (Sri Shek – Cobra). Rituals include bringing holy water from the Godavari River and the ‘Bheting’ ceremony, where new brides are introduced to the clan. The Gusadi Dance, performed by Gond tribe dancers, is a major attraction.

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A scene featuring Lezim dance in the film, based on Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, has sparked controversy in Maharashtra. Lezim is a traditional folk dance of Maharashtra performed with a wooden stick fitted with jingling cymbals. It is both a dance and a rigorous physical drill, often performed in formations of twos, fours, or circles. The dance is accompanied by dhol or dholki, with no wind or string instruments. Lezim was traditionally used in all folk dances but is now mainly seen in Ganesha processions. Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, took power in 1681 after a battle with his half-brother Rajaram.

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Sree Gowreeswara Temple, Cherai, has ended a century-old practice of requiring men to remove upper garments before worship. The tradition was a social construct linked to the caste system, not a scriptural rule. It originated to ensure the punool (Brahmin sacred thread) was visible. Cherai Gowreeswara Temple is located in Kerala. Built in 1912, the temple’s idol was installed by Sree Narayana Guru, a social reformer who fought against caste oppression. Some major Kerala temples still enforce this rule, like Sree Padmanabhaswamy, Guruvayur, and Ettumanoor temples.

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Tribal families in Neelabandha celebrated their first electricity supply since Independence with the ‘Dhimsa’ dance. Dhimsa is a popular tribal dance in Andhra Pradesh performed by Bagata, Valmiki, Poraja, Khond, Gadaba, Kondadora, Mukadora, and Kotia tribes. It symbolizes unity and cultural heritage, with themes based on mythology, folktales, economic activities, kinship, and marital life.

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Dashavatar performances recently started in Maharashtra. Dashavatar is a traditional theatre form with an 800-year history. It represents the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu: Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vaman, Parashuram, Ram, Krishna, Buddha, and Kalki. Performers use bright makeup and costumes, accompanied by a paddle harmonium, tabla, and zanj (cymbals). It is popular in the Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra’s South Konkan region and North Goa district of Goa.

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The Indian Prime Minister gifted French President Emmanuel Macron a Dokra artwork. Dokra art, also called bell metal craft, dates back over 4,000 years. It is a traditional folk art of the Dhokra Damar tribes, known for their metal craftsmanship. These artisans are mainly found in eastern India, including West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh.

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President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated Aadi Mahotsav 2025 at Major Dhyanchand Stadium, New Delhi. The event celebrates tribal entrepreneurship, crafts, culture, cuisine, and commerce. It provides a platform for tribal artisans and entrepreneurs from different states to showcase their creations. Cultural and traditional programs will be featured, promoting unity and diversity in the nation.

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Union Minister Jitendra Singh inaugurated India’s first ‘Open-Air Art Wall Museum’ at Mausam Bhawan, New Delhi. The museum marks the 150-year journey of the India Meteorological Department (IMD). It is developed in collaboration with ‘Delhi Street Art’. It transforms IMD’s Lodhi Road headquarters into a visual narrative. The artwork showcases India’s meteorological advancements and the role of weather science in society.