Art & Culture Current Affairs MCQs

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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.

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The 100th Tansen Music Festival in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, was recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records on 15 December 2024. The festival is celebrated every year in December in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. A record was set by playing nine instruments continuously for nine minutes. 536 male and female artists from across India participated in the tribute to Tansen, the king of voices. The performance included three of Tansen’s compositions: Malhar, Miyan ki Todi, and Darbari Kanhra. The presentation featured nine instruments: tabla, flute, violin, santoor, sarod, sarangi, sitar, banjo, and harmonium.

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The Gadhimai Mahotsav, held every five years at the Gadhimai Temple in Bariyarpur, Nepal, is known for the world’s largest animal sacrifice. More than two crore people attended the festival this year, despite decades of criticism from animal activists. The festival features the largest animal sacrifice, with devotees sacrificing buffaloes, goats, cocks, and ducks during Saptami, Ashtami, and Navami. Devotees also release doves in the temple when their wishes are believed to be fulfilled. The festival takes place at the Gadhimai Temple in Bara district, near the Indo-Nepal border.

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The Ministry of Culture, in partnership with France Museums Développement, will establish the Yuga Yugeen Bharat National Museum as part of the Central Vista Redevelopment Project. Announced by the Prime Minister in May 2023, it aims to celebrate India’s continuous civilizational history and promote inclusivity. It will be the largest museum globally, located across New Delhi’s North and South Blocks. The museum will highlight themes like democracy, diversity, and heritage, with a focus on community narratives. France’s expertise will guide its design and management, drawing inspiration from the Louvre.

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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.

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India’s first digital museum, “Abhay Prabhavana,” made of Jaisalmer stones, has opened in Maharashtra. It is located on the banks of the Indrayani River on the Mumbai-Pune highway in Pune district. Built by the Firodia Institute of Philosophy Culture and History, it spans 50 acres near 2200-year-old Pale Jain caves. The museum showcases the life of 24 Jain Tirthankaras and their messages using advanced technology in 30 galleries. Construction took 12 years and cost over ₹400 crore, featuring a 100-foot tall pillar and manuscripts over 1,000 years old. The aim is to preserve Jain heritage, promote its teachings, and highlight Jain contributions to society.

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Ongoing excavation at Rakhigarhi, an ancient Harappan site in Haryana’s Hisar district, has revealed advanced water management systems and cultural practices from nearly 5,000 years ago. Rakhigarhi, the largest known Harappan-era site, spans 865 acres and is globally recognized for its historical significance. The excavation uncovered a water storage area between mounds, approximately 3.5 to 4 feet deep, showcasing advanced water management. A dried riverbed of the Chautang (Drishavati) River was also discovered, adding to the site’s historical importance.

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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.

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The Gurung community celebrates Tamu Lhosar, marking the New Year and bidding farewell to the past year. The festival is observed in Nepal’s hilly and mountainous districts, including Lamjung, Gorkha, Tanahun, and others. A special celebration is held at Tundikhel, Kathmandu, where Gurung women wear traditional attire, including Makhamali blouses, Ghalek shawls, Patuki, and sarees. Men dress in cultural outfits like Bhoto, Bhangra, and Kachhad, performing a vibrant dance. Tamu Lhosar is celebrated on the 15th of the Nepali month Push (December-January), with a public holiday announced.

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Karnataka government announced a ₹100 crore plan to develop Yadgir Fort under the “One District, One Spot” initiative to boost tourism. ₹33 crore comes from the MLA grant, and ₹67 crore from the state government. Yadgir Fort is located in Yadgir district, one of the largest forts in Karnataka. The fort is built on a monolith, measuring 850m in length, 500m in width, and 100m in height. It has inscriptions from various dynasties like Kalyana Chalukyas, Yadavas, Bahmani Sultans, and others.