Art & Culture Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
The “Under the Sal Tree” Theatre Festival, held annually in Assam’s Goalpara district, celebrates its silver jubilee from December 15 to 17. The festival takes place in open space amid sal plantations, embracing simplicity and harmony with nature. The stage is made of mud, and chairs and walls are crafted from thin bamboo strips. Artists perform without artificial sound systems, relying on natural voice projection to focus on narratives. It began in 2008, organized by Badunduppa Kalakendra, founded by the late Sukracharjya Rabha in 1998. The festival highlights indigenous art forms, languages, and traditions, including Rabha and Bodo plays.

Notes:
The Surajkund International Craft Fair will take place from February 7–23, 2025, in Faridabad. Around ₹1.50 crore is allocated for repair work to prepare for the event. The fair serves as both an art exhibition and a business hub, connecting craftsmen with art enthusiasts. It highlights India’s rich handicrafts, handlooms, and cultural heritage. The 2025 fair will expand with weather-proof huts to accommodate growing participation, though the number is yet to be finalized. In 2024, 1,150 huts hosted 1,500 indigenous and 250 foreign artisans. BIMSTEC countries are partner nations, with Northeastern states receiving special focus.

Notes:
The Prime Minister has invited people to experience Rann Utsav, which runs until March 2025. Rann Utsav is an annual cultural festival organized by Gujarat Tourism in the Great Rann of Kutch, India’s largest salt desert. The festival showcases Kutch’s rich cultural and artistic heritage, drawing tourists from India and abroad. The Rann of Kutch is a vast salt marsh spanning the India-Pakistan border, mainly in Gujarat’s Kutch district, with a smaller part in Pakistan’s Sindh province.

Notes:
The Kerala High Court issued safety directives for elephants and artists at the Thrissur Pooram festival. Thrissur Pooram is a grand annual temple festival celebrated in the Malayalam month of Medam (April-May) at Thekkinkadu Maidanam, Thrissur, Kerala. Known as the “mother of all Poorams,” it is one of Kerala’s largest and most significant cultural and spiritual events. The festival was initiated by Raja Rama Varma, also called Sakthan Thampuran, the Maharaja of Cochin from 1790 to 1805.

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Hanukkah, Judaism’s “festival of lights,” is celebrated for eight nights by lighting an additional candle each evening on the menorah. The term “Hanukkah” means “dedication” in Hebrew and commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in the 2nd century BC after liberation from foreign forces. The holiday is observed during the Hebrew month of Kislev, aligning with November-December in the Gregorian calendar. In 2024, Hanukkah is celebrated from December 25, 2024, to January 2, 2025. It marks only the fifth time since 1900 that Hanukkah begins on Christmas Day.

Notes:
The countdown for the 813th Urs begins. It is an annual festival held at Ajmer, Rajasthan. It commemorates the death anniversary of Sufi saint Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, also called Garib Nawaz. Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti arrived in India with Sultan Illtuttmish and promoted the Chishtiyya Order of Sufism. The festival celebrates his life and teachings, drawing thousands of devotees to Ajmer each year.

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The Andhra Pradesh government has declared Ratha Saptami as a state festival to be celebrated at the Sri Suryanarayana Swamy temple in Arasavalli, Srikakulam district. The decision was made after the Endowments Commissioner proposed that the festival be recognized as a state event.  The festival will be celebrated for three days.  The decision was made to recognize the festival’s cultural and spiritual significance. The festival is also known as the Festival of the Sun and marks the Sun’s symbolic movement towards the northern hemisphere.

Notes:
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) discovered copper plates and ancient inscriptions in the Ghantamandapam of Srisailam Temple. Srisailam Temple, also called Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple, is located in Andhra Pradesh, surrounded by Nallamala Hills and Krishna River. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva as Mallikarjuna Swamy and Goddess Shakti as Bhramarambha. It is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas and a rare site combining Jyothirlingam and Mahashakthi in one campus. The temple, built in Dravidian style, showcases Vijayanagara architecture. Its origins trace back to the 2nd century AD, with contributions from the Satavahanas, Kakatiyas, and Vijayanagara kings. Aadi Sankara is said to have visited and composed Sivananda Lahiri here.

Notes:
Sikkim celebrated the Kagyed Dance Festival, a Buddhist festival held annually on the 28th and 29th days of the 10th month of the Tibetan calendar, corresponding to December. Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang extended greetings, highlighting the festival’s symbolism of victory over negativity and promoting peace and prosperity. The festival features masked Lamas performing dances at monasteries like Old Rumtek, Phodong, and Tshuklakhang Palace. The dances honor eight tantric gods and goddesses, narrating tales from Buddhist mythology, especially about Guru Padmasambhava. Effigies are burned as part of the celebration, believed to bring good health and wealth to spectators.

Notes:
Sevdalinka, a traditional Bosnian love song, has been included in UNESCO’s National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Originating in the 16th century, it blends South Slavic poetry with Ottoman music, reflecting a melancholic essence. Traditionally passed down through generations during family gatherings, it is often performed a cappella or with instruments like the lute. Younger musicians are revitalizing Sevdalinka, keeping its essence alive while reaching global audiences. UNESCO recognition highlights Sevdalinka’s cultural and historical significance.