Art & Culture Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
The Jadayaswamy festival was recently celebrated in Tamil Nadu. It is observed by the Badagas, an aboriginal tribe of the Nilgiris. The Badagas live in villages called Hattis and speak the Badugu language. The festival is dedicated to Jadayaswamy, a revered deity, symbolizing faith and tradition. Eight villages organize a procession to the Jadayaswamy temple and perform a firewalk every year.

Notes:
Artists performed the ‘Gomira’ dance during the Chanchala Kali Mata Puja in West Bengal. In West Bengal, the Chanchala Kali Mata Puja, a 300-year-old tradition, is celebrated after Holi (Dol). The Gomira masked dance is a traditional folk performance of the Rajbongshi and Polia communities in North Bengal. It is influenced by Mahayana Buddhism, Tantric Buddhism, and Shaivite and Shakta traditions. The dance originated from a fusion of these spiritual influences. Masks used in the dance are made from papier-mâché, sholapith, bamboo, wood, sponge wood, clay, and paper. The dance is performed to the rhythmic beats of traditional percussion instruments like Dhak and Kansar.

Notes:
President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the Purple Fest 2025 at Amrit Udyan, Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, on March 21, 2025. Purple Fest celebrates the talents, achievements, and aspirations of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), also called Divyangjan in India. The first Purple Fest was held in Panjim, Goa, in January 2023. Organized by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in association with Rashtrapati Bhavan. The event is becoming a flagship programme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for Divyangjan in India.

Notes:
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) discovered over 110 megaliths near Malampuzha dam in Palakkad, Kerala, covering 45 hectares. Malampuzha dam is the largest water barrier and reservoir in Kerala. Megalithic structures were used for burials during the Neolithic and Bronze Ages, built with large stones without mortar. The burials include Cists, Stone Circles, Urns, Dolmens, and Dolmenoid Cists, made from granite and laterite stones. Similar megalithic sites exist in Brahmagiri, Karnataka, and Adichanallur, Tamil Nadu. This discovery may provide new insights into Kerala’s early Iron Age society and beliefs.

Notes:
Unprecedented wildfires in South Korea’s southern regions recently destroyed large parts of the 1,300-year-old Gounsa Temple complex, including two national treasure buildings. Gounsa Temple, meaning “Solitary Cloud Temple,” is a Buddhist temple located at the foot of Deungun Mountain in Uiseong, South Korea. It was built in the 7th century during the Shilla dynasty. Though it lacks ancient buildings, it houses significant cultural heritages. It survived Japanese invasions but was reconstructed after the Imjin War in 1695. It serves as the Headquarters Temple of the 16th District of the Jogye-jong Order.

Notes:
The Haryana Government has declared Mitathal and Tighrana, two Harappan sites in Bhiwani district, as protected archaeological sites. These sites are now protected under a 10-acre demarcated area at Mitathal, as per a government notification issued on March 13, 2025. Mitathal site dates back to the 3rd–2nd millennium BCE and shows Harappan town planning with red pottery featuring black painted motifs. Tighrana site contains post-Harappan and pre-Harappan layers and is linked to the Sothian culture of Chalcolithic farmers. Mud-brick houses, early fortifications, and bichrome wheel-made pottery were found, along with green carnelian bangles, indicating a bead and jewelry industry. The sites show uninterrupted human settlement from Pre-Siswal to Post-Harappan periods, offering insights into early agriculture, craftsmanship, and community structure.

Notes:
The Kodungalloor Bharani is a vibrant annual festival held at the Sree Kurumba Bhagavathy Temple in Kodungalloor, Thrissur, Kerala during the Malayalam month of Meenam (March–April). It celebrates the birth of Goddess Bhadrakali, who, according to legend, emerged from Lord Shiva’s third eye to destroy the demon Darika. The festival is marked by the intense presence of Oracles (called Komaram or Velichappadu) dressed in red attire who perform sacred rituals. The celebration is one of Kerala’s most mystical and culturally rich traditions, drawing large crowds every year.

Notes:
Around 300 Pakistani citizens of Indian origin from Sindh visited the Dwarkadhish Temple in Devbhumi Dwarka, Gujarat, and offered prayers. The Dwarkadhish Temple, also called Jagat Mandir, is dedicated to Lord Krishna, known as Dwarkadhish or ‘King of Dwarka’. It is part of the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit, along with Badrinath, Rameshwaram, and Puri. Archaeological evidence suggests the original temple dates back to 200 BCE and was built by Vajranabha, Krishna’s great-grandson, over Krishna’s residence. The current temple was expanded in the 16th century with five stories and 72 limestone and sand pillars. It reflects 16th-century Chalukya architecture with carved mythical legends. It follows Pushtimarg tradition, based on teachings of 15th-century saint Vallabhacharya.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
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.