Art & Culture Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
The Union Culture Ministry has created a Kalagram, a 10.24-acre cultural village near Prayagraj station, as part of Mahakumbh 2025. Kalagram, located 2 km from the station, offers free entry and showcases Indian art, heritage, food, and performances. The entrance features a 635-foot-wide façade depicting the 12 Jyotirlingas.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Sri Sri Radha Madanmohanji Temple of ISKCON in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, on January 15, 2025. The temple is now the second-largest ISKCON temple in Asia. The design of the temple blends spirituality and knowledge, with various facilities reflecting ISKCON’s mission to serve society.

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The Halda Festival is celebrated in January in Lahaul-Spiti, Himachal Pradesh. It honors Shiskar Apa, the Goddess of Wealth, to seek blessings for prosperity and a good harvest. Celebrations are most prominent in the Pattan, Gahar, and Chandra valleys.

Notes:
Kalaripayattu, a traditional martial art from Kerala, is included only as a demonstration event in the 38th National Games in Uttarakhand. According to mythology, the warrior sage Parasurama introduced Kalaripayattu. The term Kalaripayattu combines “kalari,” meaning a place of combat, and “payattu,” meaning fighting in Malayalam. Uttarakhand will host the National Games 2025 from January 28 to February 14, 2025.

Notes:
Union Minister for Culture and Tourism inaugurated the ‘Bhagwat’ exhibition at the Prayagraj Museum, showcasing miniature paintings. The exhibition blends art, culture, Lord Ram and Krishna, and Kumbh traditions. The exhibition highlights India’s unity, serving as proof against historical divisions. The Minister emphasized the Kumbh as a symbol of India’s unity, bringing together people of various faiths and cultures.

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The Geographical Indications (GI) Registry Chennai has granted a new logo for the Kashmir hand-knotted carpet to preserve its exclusivity. Kashmir hand-knotted carpets, locally called “Kal baffi”, date back to the 15th century. Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin introduced carpet weaving in Kashmir by bringing artisans from Persia and Central Asia. Farsi baff and Persian Sehna knots are traditionally used in Kashmir carpets. Simple tools like wooden or metal combs and short scissors are used in weaving. Other GI-tagged Kashmir crafts include Papier Mache, Pashmina, Kani, Sozni, Khatamband, and Walnut Wood Carving.

Notes:
A study traces the Fulani people’s history back to the ‘Green Sahara’ period (12,000–5,000 years ago). The Fulani are among Africa’s largest pastoral populations, including nomadic herders and farmers. They mainly reside in Nigeria, Mali, Guinea, Senegal, and Niger but are spread across several other countries. Their language, Fula, belongs to the Atlantic branch of the Niger-Congo language family. The Fulani are divided into three groups: Makiyaya (herders), Fulanin Soro (town dwellers), and Bararo (forest dwellers with ancestral rituals).

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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.

Notes:
The statue of Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar was unveiled in Cebu, Philippines on February 16, 2025. The statue was unveiled to celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and the Philippines. Thiruvalluvar was a poet and philosopher, revered as a cultural icon by Tamils. He is fondly called Valluvar by the Tamil people. His most famous work is Thirukkural, a collection of couplets on ethics, politics, economy, and love. Thirukkural contains 1,330 couplets (kurals) divided into 133 sections, each with 10 couplets. The text is structured into three parts focusing on dharma (virtue), artha (wealth), and kama (love).

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The 2nd Simolu Festival began on February 15, 2025, at Bwisang-Na eco-resort in Barunguri, Laokhowa, Assam. The two-day festival celebrated the blooming Bombax ceiba (Shimul) flowers, eco-tourism, conservation, and local culture. Events included cycling, camping, ethnic cuisine displays, cultural performances, and awareness sessions.