Art & Culture Current Affairs MCQs

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The Controller General of Patents, Designs, and Trademarks awarded the Geographical Indication certificate to ‘Kutch Ajrakh’ artisans from Gujarat. Ajrakh, a textile craft deeply rooted in Gujarat’s culture, especially in Kutch, Sindh, and Barmer, involves intricate hand-block printing on cotton cloth. Its name derives from ‘Azrak’, meaning indigo, a key dye used. Traditionally, Ajrakh prints symbolize sky (blue), land and fire (red), and stars (white), reflecting rich symbolism and history.

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Hindu devotees gather in Hinglaj, Lasbela district, Pakistan, for an annual festival at the ancient cave temple of Hinglaj Mata. The pilgrimage begins with a trek to steep mud volcanoes, where pilgrims climb stairs and rocks to reach the summit. Tossing coconuts and rose petals into the crater, they seek divine permission to visit the temple. Dedicated to Goddess Hinglaj, it’s one of the oldest temples in the Indian subcontinent. Located near the Hingol River, in Balochistan, Pakistan, the temple complex features shrines, caves, and sacred natural formations.

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Archaeologists have discovered the first evidence of rock art in Mangaluru city in the form of a pair of human footprints on a natural stone boulder near the Boloor Panne Koteda Babbu Swamy shrine. The footprints may have been created in the first or second century A.D.

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Sikkim celebrated Saga Dawa, the ‘Triple Blessed Festival’, on May 23, 2023, coinciding with Buddha Purnima. This sacred Buddhist festival marks the birth, enlightenment, and passing of Buddha Shakyamuni. Celebrated on the 15th day of the fourth month of the Tibetan Buddhist calendar, Buddhists in Sikkim offer prayers in monasteries to honor these significant events in the life of Siddhartha Gautama as Lord Buddha.

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The Archaeological Survey of India confirms Neolithic rock carvings in Goa’s Mauxi village. Carvings on meta basalt rock along the dry Zarme riverbed depict animals like zebus, bulls, and antelopes, as well as footprints and cupules. In India, prehistoric rock paintings span from the Upper Palaeolithic, featuring animal figures, to the Mesolithic, with human scenes, and the Neolithic-Chalcolithic, showing pottery and metal tools.

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The iconic Maharani Temple, situated on a small hillock in Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir , was tragically gutted in a blaze. Constructed in 1915 by Mohini Bai Sisodia, wife of Maharaja Hari Singh, it was a royal temple of the Dogra dynasty. Dedicated to Lord Shiva and Parvati, the temple featured intricate Indian and Persian designs. The Indian Army and local communities restored it in 2021, highlighting its cultural significance.

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The Dubai Art Centre hosted the “Hunar” exhibition, showcasing India’s rich folk and tribal art heritage. Organized by Videsha Pandey, the exhibition features diverse works including a Ramayana painting, Aipan art from Uttarakhand, Madhubani art from Bihar, Warli art from Maharashtra, and Muria art from Chhattisgarh. The exhibition aims to highlight India’s cultural diversity and underrepresented art forms, offering visitors an immersive experience of India’s artistic traditions.

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With the south-west monsoon setting in, Nouka Baich boat races will soon begin in rural West Bengal. These traditional races occur from September to November, with increasing female participation. Linked to the worship of the Hindu deity Manasa, goddess of snakes, these races use various traditional boats, including the 90 ft long Sorengi. The races celebrate agrarian culture and the swollen rivers of the monsoon season.

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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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A high-level committee led by an Orissa High Court judge has accelerated the process of opening the Ratna Bhandar treasury of Shree Jagannath Temple after 46 years. Located in Puri, Odisha, the Hindu temple is dedicated to Lord Jagannath and dates back to the 12th century under the Eastern Ganga dynasty. Known for its Kalinga architecture, the temple houses idols of Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra, and hosts the famous Ratha Yatra festival annually.