Art & Culture Current Affairs MCQs

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Recently, archaeologists discovered a 4,000-year-old temple on Failaka Island in Kuwait, linked to the ancient Dilmun Civilization. The Dilmun Civilization, also known as Telmun, flourished in the eastern Arabian Peninsula. Its main centers were the islands of Bahrain and Failaka Island in Kuwait. It also extended to regions of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, and the Iranian coast along the Persian Gulf. Dilmun was a powerful Bronze Age trading hub connecting Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley. Though ancient and influential, it is less known than major early civilizations like Mesopotamia, Egypt, Indus Valley, and Yellow River.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Hilly villages of Garhwal in Uttarakhand celebrate Mangsir Bagwal, a post-Diwali folk festival rooted in agrarian life and local history. It is held in the lunar month of Mangsir (Margashirsha), about one month after Kartik Diwali, marking a delayed festival of lights. The celebration honours Garhwali commander Madho Singh Bhandari, who returned victorious from battle against Tibetan forces after Diwali. The festival coincides with the end of the winter-harvest season, when villagers gather for feasting, music and dance.

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Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) marked World Heritage Week with a heritage walk and clean-up drive at Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur. Brihadeeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva in Tamil Nadu and is also called Periya Kovil, RajaRajeswara Temple and Rajarajesvaram. It is one of India’s largest temples and a masterpiece of Dravidian architecture from the Chola period. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Great Living Chola Temples”.

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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.

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Chief Minister (CM) Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated the 36th Konark Festival, 15th International Sand Art Festival, and Subhadra Shakti Mela at Chandrabhaga beach, Odisha. The events were held near the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage Konark Sun Temple. Classical dances like Odissi, Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, Manipuri, and Kathak are performed. 143 sand artists from India and abroad are participating in the sand art festival. The festival runs from 1 to 5 December 2025

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Scientists have discovered the oldest known evidence of fire-making by prehistoric humans in England, providing crucial insights into early human technological abilities. The discovery includes a patch of heated clay, heat-shattered flint handaxes, and two pieces of iron pyrite, indicating deliberate fire production rather than natural burning. Iron pyrite was likely struck against flint to produce sparks, which could ignite tinder, showing early mastery of fire-making techniques. The findings highlight the advanced survival skills and cognitive development of prehistoric humans, as controlled use of fire was essential for cooking, warmth, protection, and tool-making.

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University of Patanjali has been designated a Cluster Center under the Gyan Bharatam Mission, Ministry of Culture, Government of India. University of Patanjali is the first yoga and Ayurveda-based university to receive this distinction. The university has preserved 50,000+ ancient texts, digitized 42 lakh+ pages, and republished 40 manuscripts. As a Cluster Center, it will mentor 20 associated institutions and strengthen nationwide cultural preservation efforts. The university will support research, education, and dissemination of Yoga and Ayurveda manuscripts, linking traditional wisdom with contemporary scholarship.