Art & Culture Current Affairs MCQs

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At least six people died and more than 70 were injured in a tragic stampede during the annual Lairai Jatra procession at Shree Lairai Devi Temple in Shirgaon, North Goa. The Lairai Devi Temple, located in Shirgao village, is dedicated to Goddess Lairai, believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Parvati. The temple is significant to both local Hindus and Catholics, who regard Lairai Devi and the Virgin Mary of Mapusa as sisters. The Lairai Jatra includes a fire-walking ritual where devotees walk across embers, believing the righteous will be protected. The tragedy occurred during the late-night procession and ritual celebrations.

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Archaeologists have recently discovered prehistoric tools from the Lower Paleolithic age at Mangar Bani, highlighting its ancient human presence. Mangar Bani is a sacred grove and Paleolithic site located in the Aravalli hills on the Delhi-Haryana border. It lies within the only primary forest in the Delhi National Capital Region (NCR), meaning the forest is largely untouched by human activities and contains native tree species. Evidence shows continuous human occupation from around 100,000 years before present (BP) to 1000 AD. The site also has rock shelters and ancient rock and cave paintings estimated to be 20,000 to 40,000 years old.

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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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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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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.

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Recently, the Kheer Bhawani festival was celebrated on Jyeshta Ashtami at the Kheer Bhawani Temple in Ganderbal, Jammu and Kashmir. The temple is located near Srinagar and is dedicated to Goddess Ragnya Devi, an incarnation of Goddess Durga. It was originally built by Maharaja Pratap Singh around 1912 and later renovated by Maharaja Hari Singh. At the centre of the temple is a sacred hexagonal spring, known for its holy water. The temple and the festival are named after the sweet dish ‘kheer’, which is served as prasad to the devotees.

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Recently, the annual Kataragama Esala festival began in Sri Lanka with a flag hoisting ceremony. Devotees completed a long Pada Yatra, walking over 500 kilometers from Jaffna in Sri Lanka’s northern peninsula to Kataragama. The festival is celebrated by people of different faiths and strengthens cultural ties between India and Sri Lanka. The main temple, Maha Devala, is dedicated to Skanda, the Hindu God of War, who has six heads, twelve arms, twenty names, and two wives. Skanda is also worshipped by Buddhists as Katharagama Deviyo, and Muslims associate the place with Hazrat Khizr.

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Recently, the Bonalu festival, one of Telangana’s most important traditional celebrations, began on June 26, 2025, at Sri Jagadambika Ammavari Temple in the historic Golconda Fort. Bonalu honours Goddess Mahakali, seen as the symbol of strength and protection. Thousands of devotees from Hyderabad and Secunderabad will join the celebrations over several weeks. The festival started with the golden bonam, a sacred offering to the goddess, marking the rituals of Ashada Masam, the Ashada month.