Art & Culture Current Affairs MCQs

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Cheiraoba is considered to be one of the most important festivals of Manipur and it marks the beginning of the lunar new year for the people of Meitei community of Manipur and across the globe. The festival is also called as Sajibu Nongma Pānba which means “First day of Sajibu Month”.

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A three-day India-Nepal Literature Festival was organized in Vrindavan, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. It was conducted by Geeta Shodh Sansthan, affiliated with Uttar Pradesh Braj Teerth Vikas Parishad, and Krantidhara Sahitya Academy, Meerut. More than 180 litterateurs, writers, journalists, and educationists from India and Nepal participated. The festival aimed to promote and enhance the literary and cultural heritage of both countries. It encouraged the exchange of literature and culture. Cooperation between Indian and Nepali litterateurs was strengthened. Traditional and contemporary literature gained new direction and recognition.

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The five-day Madhavpur Ghed fair organized in Madhavpur, Porbandar district, Gujarat, celebrating the divine union of Dwarikadhish Shri Krishna and Rukshmani ji. It promotes cultural unity between Western and Northeastern India under the vision of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat (One India, Great India) launched by the Prime Minister. More than 1600 artists from Northeast states and Gujarat presents cultural performances.

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During his recent visit to Thailand, the Indian Prime Minister gifted a Dokra Brass Peacock Boat to the Thailand’s Prime Minister as a symbol of cultural friendship. The sculpture is shaped like a peacock boat and decorated with detailed patterns and colorful lacquer inlays, showcasing traditional craftsmanship. Dokra or Dhokra art is an ancient Indian metal casting technique that uses the lost wax method and dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization. The art is named after the Dhokra Damar tribes and is also practiced by the Gadwas, Gonds, and Dhurwas tribes in Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Odisha, and Jharkhand. Each piece is unique as the mold used is destroyed after one casting.

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Ancient relics around 2,000 years old from the Megalithic Period were discovered in Manimoola village, Bandadukka, Kerala. A Megalith is a large stone used in building prehistoric monuments, either by itself or with other stones. These structures were made for burial purposes, called sepulchral, and for commemorative rituals, called non-sepulchral. Most Megaliths in India belong to the Iron Age, which lasted from 1500 BCE to 500 BCE. Some megalithic sites in India are even older and go back to 2000 BCE, showing a long history of early human settlements.

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A fire broke out at Daulatabad Fort in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, Maharashtra, prompting the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to assess the damage and plan disaster management. It is located in Maharashtra. Specifically, it is situated near the city of Aurangabad, also known as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Daulatabad Fort was originally called Devgiri, meaning “Hill of Gods”, and was renamed by Muhammad bin Tughlaq in the 14th century when he shifted his capital there. It served as the capital for many dynasties like the Yadavas, Tughlaqs, Bahmanis, Nizam Shahis, Mughals, Marathas, and the Nizams of Hyderabad. It is a UNESCO-nominated heritage site known for its rich history, architecture, and ecology. The fort has three-layered defense walls called Ambarkot, Mahakot, and Kalakot, with moats, bastions, and iron-spiked gates.

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Rongali Bihu, also called Bohag Bihu, is celebrated in Assam from April 14 to April 20, 2025, marking the Assamese New Year. It signals the start of the agricultural season and holds great cultural importance in the state. The word “Rongali” comes from “Rong,” meaning joy, showing the happy and colourful nature of the festival. Rongali Bihu welcomes spring and marks the beginning of sowing activities for farmers. It is a time of gratitude and hope when farmers pray for a good harvest and celebrate nature’s blessings with dance, music, and traditional feasts.

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Vietnam hosts the United Nations (UN) Day of Vesak in 2025 from May 6 to 8 in Ho Chi Minh City. The United Nations Day of Vesak marks the birth, enlightenment, and passing away of Lord Buddha. In a historic first, the sacred Buddha Relic from Sarnath, India, will be sent to Vietnam for special exposition. The event is being organized by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, along with the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC).

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The Ramman Festival, inscribed in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, is celebrated in Uttarakhand. It takes place annually in late April, after the harvest season, in the twin villages of Saloor-Dungra. The festival honours Bhumiyal Devta, the village’s tutelary deity, and holds deep religious significance. The celebration includes complex rituals such as the recitation of a version of the epic of Rama, songs, and masked dances. A key feature is the singing of Jagar, a musical performance that narrates local legends.

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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.