Art & Culture Current Affairs MCQs

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The 38th Surajkund International Crafts Fair 2025 held from February 7 to 23 in Surajkund, Faridabad, Haryana. It is organized by the Union Ministries of Tourism, Culture, External Affairs, Textiles, and the Haryana government. The fair showcases India’s and other countries’ crafts, textiles, culture, and cuisine. The 37th edition in 2024 saw participation from 45+ countries, 592 foreign artists, and 1.3 million visitors. For 2025, BIMSTEC is proposed as the partner organization, enhancing international collaboration.

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Tribal families in Neelabandha celebrated their first electricity supply since Independence with the ‘Dhimsa’ dance. Dhimsa is a popular tribal dance in Andhra Pradesh performed by Bagata, Valmiki, Poraja, Khond, Gadaba, Kondadora, Mukadora, and Kotia tribes. It symbolizes unity and cultural heritage, with themes based on mythology, folktales, economic activities, kinship, and marital life.

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Assam will host the world’s largest Jhumur (Jhumoir) dance performance on February 24. The event aims to set a Guinness World Record with over 7,500 dancers. It is part of an investment summit in the state. The festival highlights Assam’s rich cultural heritage. It also serves as a global platform to attract investors.

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Assam Rifles and North East Association Social Welfare hosts the first-ever Unity Utsav from February 15 to 20, 2025, in New Delhi. The festival, themed “One Voice, One Nation,” celebrates the sportsmanship and cultural heritage of Northeast India. Lt Gen Vikas Lakhera, Director General of Assam Rifles, highlighted its role in promoting national unity and pride. More than 1,000 students from all eight Northeastern states will participate in sports, cultural performances, and traditional music and dance. The festival concludes on February 20 with a grand cultural evening showcasing Northeast India’s rich heritage.

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Three Kannada inscriptions from the Kalyana Chalukya era were discovered for the first time in Kankal village, Vikarabad district, Telangana. The Chalukyas ruled the Deccan plateau from the 6th to 12th centuries as three related dynasties. The Kalyana Chalukyas, also called Western Chalukyas, ruled from Kalyani (now in Bidar, Karnataka). Tailapa II founded the dynasty after overthrowing the Rashtrakutas. Their rule peaked under Vikramaditya VI (1076-1126 CE), known for military success and governance. He defeated northern feudatories and won battles against the Cholas, marking the ‘Chalukya Vikrama era.’

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Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) government has recognized Bathouism as an official religion option in application forms. The move has been praised by Bodo culture and faith experts. Union Home Minister Amit Shah highlighted the initiative at the 13th Triennial Conference of All Bathou Mahasabha. The government has also declared a state holiday for Bathou Puja, emphasizing its commitment to nature-centric faiths. Bathouism is the traditional religion of the Bodos, Assam’s largest plains tribe, mainly living along the Brahmaputra’s north bank. The religion is deeply ancestral but has seen reform movements.

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The Prime Minister of India attended Jhumoir Binandini 2025, a grand cultural event featuring 8,000 performers. Jhumoir, also known as Jhumur, is a traditional folk dance of Assam’s Adivasi tea tribes, performed during the harvest season. It is accompanied by instruments like the Madal, Dhol, Taal, and Flute. Dancers perform in a circular formation with rhythmic footwork and swaying movements. Women wear colorful sarees, while men wear dhotis and kurtas. The dance symbolizes unity, inclusivity, and Assam’s rich cultural heritage, fostering social bonding and community celebration.

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Historians urged the government to push for Lepakshi Temple’s inclusion in the UNESCO heritage list. The 16th-century temple in Andhra Pradesh is known for its Dravidian-style architecture, intricate carvings, and monolithic structures. It is dedicated to Lord Veerabhadra, a form of Lord Shiva. In March 2023, UNESCO placed the temple on its provisional list of heritage sites. The State and Central governments are now studying its architecture, sculptures, murals, and the world’s largest monolithic Nandi statue to submit a detailed report for final UNESCO recognition.

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Mahashivratri is a major festival for Shiva devotees worldwide. In Kashmir, it is uniquely celebrated as “Herath” by the Kashmiri Pandit community. The festival begins on the 13th day of Phalgun (February/March) and lasts until the new moon. “Herath” comes from “Hara” (Shiva) and “Ratri” (night). It symbolizes the unity of divine forces, consciousness, and feminine energy. The festival honors the sacred union of Shiva and Parvati, reflecting the broader significance of Mahashivratri.

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A 4,000-year-old Neolithic wooden circle was discovered in Denmark, similar to Stonehenge. It consists of 45 wooden piles arranged in a 30-meter diameter, likely for rituals or sun worship. A nearby Bronze Age (1700–1500 BCE) settlement included a chieftain’s grave and a bronze sword. The Bronze Age (2000–700 BCE) was when people widely used bronze tools. The discovery suggests cultural links between Denmark and Britain through shared artifacts. Stonehenge (3100–1600 BCE) in England is a prehistoric monument with massive stone circles.