Art & Culture Current Affairs MCQs

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After 12 years, Uttarakhand is hosting the Pushkar Kumbh Mela at Keshav Prayag in Mana village. Pushkar Kumbh is a sacred Vaishnavite pilgrimage held every 12 years when Jupiter enters Gemini. It takes place at the confluence of the Alaknanda and Saraswati rivers in Mana village, Uttarakhand. The site is spiritually important as Ved Vyas composed the Mahabharata here. Saints like Ramanujacharya and Madhvacharya are believed to have received divine knowledge from Goddess Saraswati at this place. Though smaller than other Kumbh Melas, it attracts many devotees, especially from South India.

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The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), along with the World Monuments Fund India (WMFI) and the TCS Foundation, has recently completed the conservation of Rajon ki Baoli. Rajon ki Baoli, also called Rajon ki Bain, is a 16th-century stepwell located in Mehrauli Archaeological Park, South Delhi. It was built in 1506 CE by Daulat Khan during the rule of Sikander Lodi of the Lodi dynasty, the last dynasty before the Mughals. The stepwell showcases Lodi-era architecture and traditional water conservation techniques. It served as a water source and summer retreat, mainly used by masons for drinking and cooking.

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The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has recently asked for revisions to the excavation report submitted by the archaeologist who led the Keezhadi project. The Keezhadi excavation site is near Madurai in Tamil Nadu, on the banks of the Vaigai River. It is a major Sangam-era settlement dating from the 5th century BCE to the 3rd century CE. The site reveals a well-planned, literate, and craft-based urban society. Keezhadi suggests that South India had early urbanisation independent of North Indian cultures. It is considered one of Tamil Nadu’s most important archaeological discoveries after Adichanallur.

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A rare Kannada inscription was discovered in Haveri, Karnataka, dating back to 18th August 1539 CE. It records a mass humanitarian disaster due to “bara” (drought), resulting in 6,307 deaths. This is India’s earliest known inscription that explicitly mentions the human toll of a natural disaster. The deceased were buried with respects paid to God Basaveshwara. Inscriptions are historical texts carved on stone or metal to record important events, decrees, or donations. This finding gives rare insight into how ancient societies documented and responded to climate-related tragedies.

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In the lead-up to International Yoga Day 2025 on June 21, the Union Territory of Ladakh will host a week-long event called Ladakh’s Biggest International Festival of Yoga and Meditation. It will be held from June 15 to 21 at scenic spots like Pangong Lake, Shanti Stupa, Sindhu Ghat on the Indus River, and Nubra Valley. The final celebration will take place at the Astro Turf Stadium, the highest football stadium in India, with civil and defence participants. The event is being organized by the Ladakh Administration and Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre. Themes include Harit Yoga, Samavesh Yoga, and Yoga Unplugged, guided by the Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH). A seminar on Unplugged Yoga will be conducted with the University of Ladakh.

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Prime Minister recently visited the Karni Mata Temple in Rajasthan. The temple is located in Bikaner district, Rajasthan. It is dedicated to Karni Mata, believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Durga. The temple was established by Rao Jaitasi to celebrate the victory of the Bikaner King over Mughal King Kumaran. It belongs to the Shakta Sampradaya, a religious sect devoted to Goddess worship. The temple is unique worldwide because thousands of rats freely move inside it.

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Artists of Madhubani and Gond art recently met President Droupadi Murmu under the Artists-in-Residence Programme – Kala Utsav at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Gond art is practiced by the Pardhan Gond tribes from Madhya Pradesh and nearby Central Indian states. It is a tribal art form linked to storytelling and rituals, originally painted on home walls showing folk tales and nature. Madhubani art, also known as Mithila painting, originates from the Mithila region of Bihar. It is a traditional folk art made mostly by women on walls and floors during special occasions.

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Kerala’s Agriculture Minister recently inaugurated the Njattadi Festival, also known as the Sapling Festival, marking its cultural and agricultural significance. Njattadi is a traditional festival celebrated by farming communities in Kerala to welcome the paddy cultivation season. The word “Njattadi” comes from “Njattuvela”, a term in the Malayalam calendar that indicates the best time for sowing rice seeds. This festival is not just about farming but also celebrates Kerala’s heritage with folk songs like Vanchipattu and Njattu Pattu, along with traditional dances. It reflects the deep link between agriculture, tradition, and seasonal rhythms in Kerala.

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The Archaeological Survey of India recently found one of the earliest rock grooves in Kanniyakumari district, made during the Neolithic Age to sharpen weapons. The Neolithic Age, also known as the New Stone Age, was the last phase of prehistoric human development. It marked the shift from hunting and gathering to farming and animal domestication. This period began around 10,000 BCE during the Holocene Epoch. The Neolithic Revolution started in the Fertile Crescent in the Middle East and later spread to India and other regions.

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Recently, a joint excavation by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the Raigad Development Authority unearthed a rare ‘yantraraj’ or astrolabe at Raigad Fort, the capital of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Raigad Fort is located in Raigad district of Maharashtra in the Sahyadri mountain ranges, also known as the Western Ghats. The Hirkani Buruj, a famous tower, is built on a high valley near the fort.