Art & Culture Current Affairs MCQs

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The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has discovered four ancient rock art sites in Mizoram, dating between the 16th and 19th centuries. In Maite village, Saitual, a cliff showed carvings of human figures, animals, gongs, mithun heads, and symbols. In Lianpui, Champhai, carvings included fish, dao (a machete), hornbills, weapons, and rectangular chambers. In Tualte, Khawzawl, mithun heads, humans, and geometric shapes were etched on rocks. At Chhawrtu, carvings included circular motifs, rows of heads, and fish. These artworks show the cultural and artistic legacy of ancient Mizo inhabitants. The ASI linked these sites to the Vangchhia region in Champhai, earlier identified as a major ancient settlement or lost civilisation. The ASI has submitted a report, and the sites are proposed for official protection.

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Malwa Utsav is one of the biggest cultural festivals of Madhya Pradesh. It is celebrated mainly in Madhya Pradesh to promote Indian dance, music, and art. The recent Malwa Utsav was held from 6 to 12 May 2025 at Lalbagh Complex, Indore. The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh participated in this grand event. It is organised by Lok Sanskriti Manch and has been celebrated for the past 25 years. The aim is to preserve and promote folk culture and traditions. It provides a platform and market to local artists and craftsmen. The festival promotes national integration and cultural exchange. Folk artists from across India and Madhya Pradesh performed dances and music.

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During recent excavations at Nineveh in Iraq, archaeologists found a large relief showing King Assurbanipal, the last ruler of the Assyrian Empire, with two deities and other figures. Nineveh was a major city in northern Mesopotamia and became the capital of the Assyrian Empire under King Sennacherib in the 8th century BCE. It lies on the east bank of the Tigris River in modern-day Mosul, Iraq. It was once the largest and most populated city of the Assyrian Empire and an important religious center for worshipping the goddess Ishtar. Nineveh was fully developed during the Neo-Assyrian Empire (912–612 BCE) and known for its cultural beauty, gardens, and parks. The city was destroyed in 612 BCE by a coalition of Babylonians and Medes, marking the end of the Assyrian Empire.

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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, 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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A ‘Maha Kumbhabhishekam’, a grand ritual for temple purification and consecration, was recently performed at the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala after 270 years. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is one of the most revered Hindu temples in India. The city’s name, Thiruvananthapuram, means “The City of Lord Ananta” in Malayalam, referring to the deity of this temple.

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Lucknow, the cultural capital of Uttar Pradesh, is famous for its architecture, poetry, etiquette, and especially its culinary heritage. The city’s rich food culture is now gaining global attention with its nomination for UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network (UCCN) under the Gastronomy category. If selected, Lucknow will become only the second Indian city after Hyderabad to be honored in the gastronomy field.

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Recently, a debate on folk music aesthetics emerged after the Goa State Cabinet declared the Ghumot as the state’s heritage instrument in 2019, without using monitor lizard skin. Ghumot, also called Ghumat, is a traditional percussion instrument used in Goa’s religious and cultural practices. It is made from a clay pot with one side open and the other covered with animal skin, now mostly goat hide instead of the banned Indian monitor lizard skin. The instrument is also important during festivals like Zagor and Shigmo, organized by village committees.

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Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted Meghalaya’s Eri Silk in the 123rd episode of Mann Ki Baat radio show. Eri Silk from Meghalaya has received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag. Eri Silk is a heritage of Meghalaya, preserved by the Khasi community. It is called Ahimsa Silk because its production does not harm silkworms. The fabric symbolizes sustainability, tradition, and craftsmanship.