Art & Culture Current Affairs MCQs

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President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated Aadi Mahotsav 2025 at Major Dhyanchand Stadium, New Delhi. The event celebrates tribal entrepreneurship, crafts, culture, cuisine, and commerce. It provides a platform for tribal artisans and entrepreneurs from different states to showcase their creations. Cultural and traditional programs will be featured, promoting unity and diversity in the nation.

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The 300-year-old stone art of Gaya district, Bihar, has received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. Patharkatti village in Neemchak Bathani block is famous for its stone sculptures. Artisans create statues of Lord Buddha, Mahavira, and other artistic sculptures. More than 650 artisans in Patharkatti are involved in stone carving. The GI tag provides global recognition, helping artisans gain a new identity and increase their income.

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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.

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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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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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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.

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Auroville recently celebrated its 57th anniversary with bonfire meditation at the Matrimandir Amphitheatre. It is an experimental international township in Tamil Nadu, near Pondicherry, with residents from over 60 countries. It was founded by Mirra Alfassa (‘The Mother’) on February 28, 1968, as an international cultural township. It was designed by architect Roger Anger, it is the world’s largest and oldest intentional community. Auroville has transformed from barren land into a 3,000-acre green township with biodiversity, schools, and social enterprises. UNESCO endorsed Auroville through resolutions in 1966, 1968, 1970, and 1983. It is administered by the Ministry of Education under the Auroville Foundation Act, 1988.

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Assam Rifles celebrated the Chapchar Kut festival with locals in Champhai, Mizoram, on March 7, 2025. The event promoted unity, cultural harmony, and traditional pride among the community. The spring festival, marked by clearing forests for jhum cultivation, featured locals in colorful attire, engaging in folk dances and songs. Chapchar Kut, observed annually in March, attracted a diverse crowd, highlighting the rich cultural heritage of the Mizo community in a day-long celebration.

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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.

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Ministry of Culture launched an initiative to preserve Kamba Ramayana recitals in Tamil Nadu. Kamba Ramayana is a Tamil epic, based on Valmiki Ramayana, written by Kambar in the 12th century CE. The epic is celebrated for its poetic excellence and unique spiritual interpretations. Written in classical Tamil, it has 6 Kandams, 113 Padalams, and 10,569 verses. The epic integrates Tamil folk elements and spiritual symbolism, traditionally recited by Kamba Ramayana Mandali in temples. The initiative aims to revive and promote this cultural heritage.