Art & Culture Current Affairs MCQs

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The annual Mela Patt festival recently began in Doda district, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). The festival is dedicated to Lord Vasuki Nag, the presiding deity of Bhaderwah Valley. Rooted in Nag culture, it commemorates the historic meeting between Mughal Emperor Akbar and King Nag Pal of Bhaderwah. The festival has been celebrated since the 16th century. It was first observed when Bhaderwah was known as Bhadarkashi. The festival is observed every year on Nag Panchami, seven days after the Kailash Yatra, it is inclusive of all communities. Dhakku dance, the traditional dance of Dogras, is also performed. The festival highlights religious traditions, historical legacy, and cultural pride of Bhaderwah.

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Telangana government will host Bathukamma, the nine-day floral festival, from September 21-30, 2025 on air, land, and water. The festival precedes Dasara and involves women worshipping Goddess Gowri on floral arrangements. Celebrations will be inspired by Brazil’s Rio Carnival to attract international tourists and showcase Telangana’s cultural heritage. The state will attempt a Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of women. The nine-day festivities will begin at the Thousand Pillar Temple, Warangal. The initiative highlights Telangana’s efforts to promote tourism, culture, and global recognition of its traditional festivals.

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Karma Puja, a traditional folk festival, is observed on Ekadashi Tithi of the bright fortnight in Bhadrapada (Bhado) month. In 2025, the Karam Festival was celebrated on Wednesday, September 3. Sisters observe a fast for the long life of their brothers and worship the sacred Karam branch. The Karam branch symbolizes divinity and nature, revered by tribal communities. The festival is significant in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Odisha.

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The newly constructed Royal Bhutan Buddhist Temple in Rajgir, Bihar, was inaugurated on 5 September 2025. The inauguration followed traditional rituals and Bhutanese Buddhist customs. Rajgir is historically significant as a place of penance of Lord Buddha and holds great importance in Buddhism. The ceremony was attended by the Prime Minister of Bhutan, Union Minister for Minority Affairs, and representatives from both countries. The temple aims to strengthen cultural and spiritual ties between India and Bhutan. It will serve as a center for Buddhist learning, meditation, and promoting bilateral friendship and cooperation

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Arunachal Pradesh will host the first-ever Sunrise Festival in Dong village, Anjaw district, from 29 December 2025 to 2 January 2026. Dong is the first place in India to receive sunrise daily and lies at the tri-junction of India, China, and Myanmar at 1,240 m altitude. Chief Minister Pema Khandu announced the festival and invited people nationwide to witness the first dawn of the New Year. The festival will feature ethnic cuisine, adventure sports, cultural programs, and ecotourism events. Dong is accessible by road from Tezu (200 km), Dibrugarh (360 km), and Tinsukia (310 km).

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Tiwa tribesmen celebrated Langkhun Festival in Umsowai village, Karbi Anglong district, Assam. Langkhun, also called Lankhong Festival, is a harvest festival with sacred offerings to Ramsa Devota and other deities. The community prays for protection of paddy from pests, abundant yield, family prosperity, and village health. Tiwa people, also called Lalung, are a Tibeto-Burmese group found in Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. In Assam, they are recognized as a Scheduled Tribe and practice traditional agriculture, including jhum cultivation.

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Ladakh is preparing for the 10th Zanskar Festival on 20th–21st September, a key cultural event of the region. The Zanskar Festival is celebrated in the Zanskar valley, located in the Kargil district of the Union Territory of Ladakh. The festival aims to preserve Ladakh’s heritage, ethnic diversity, and traditions while promoting tourism.

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Manipur inaugurated the 14th Sirarakhong Hathei Chilli Festival in Ukhrul district on 17 September. The festival lasts 14 days and promotes Sirarakhong Hathei, a Geographical Indication (GI)-tagged chilli. Sirarakhong Hathei is famous for its unique aroma and flavour across India. Cultural performances were organised to showcase the rich heritage of the region. A Buyer-Seller Meet was held to enhance economic opportunities for farmers.A tree plantation drive was also held under the national initiative ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’.

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The Ministry of Culture has started consultations to include Chhath Mahaparva in UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The meeting was held at Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi, under UNESCO’s 2003 Convention. Diplomats from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Suriname, and the Netherlands supported the multinational nomination. UNESCO recognition will help global awareness, documentation, and preservation of Chhath Mahaparva. The festival is dedicated to Sun God and Goddess Chhathi Maiya, celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and by diaspora worldwide. India currently has 15 cultural elements inscribed in UNESCO’s Representative List.

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Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will review the progress of the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal, Gujarat during his one-day Gujarat visit. NMHC is a flagship project under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways’ Sagarmala Programme, with an estimated cost of ₹4,500 crore. Lothal, a 5,000-year-old Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC) port town, is the site of the world’s oldest man-made dockyard. The complex will showcase 5,000 years of India’s maritime history through history, research, education, and entertainment. It will include the world’s tallest lighthouse museum (77 m), floating restaurant, tent city, e-car facilities, and four theme parks.