Art & Culture Current Affairs MCQs

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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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The Prime Minister of India attended Jhumoir Binandini 2025, a grand cultural event featuring 8,000 performers. Jhumoir, also known as Jhumur, is a traditional folk dance of Assam’s Adivasi tea tribes, performed during the harvest season. It is accompanied by instruments like the Madal, Dhol, Taal, and Flute. Dancers perform in a circular formation with rhythmic footwork and swaying movements. Women wear colorful sarees, while men wear dhotis and kurtas. The dance symbolizes unity, inclusivity, and Assam’s rich cultural heritage, fostering social bonding and community celebration.

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The 51st Khajuraho Dance Festival in Madhya Pradesh set a Guinness World Record. 139 artists performed a classical dance marathon for 24 hours, 9 minutes, and 26 seconds. The Guinness team certified the record and presented the certificate to Chief Minister Mohan Yadav. The event was organized by the MP Department of Culture.

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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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Supreme Court directed Forest Research Institute (FRI) to conduct a tree census in the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ). TTZ covers 10,400 sq km around the Taj Mahal to protect it from pollution. It includes three UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and Fatehpur Sikri. 1996 Supreme Court ruling banned coal/coke use in TTZ industries, mandating a switch to natural gas or relocation. Centre formed TTZ Pollution Prevention Authority under the Environment Protection Act, 1986. TTZ has four zones: Red, Green, Orange, and White.

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The Jalanatheswarar Temple in Thakkolam, Ranipet district, Tamil Nadu, is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva is worshipped as Jalantheeswarar, represented by a sand lingam known as Theenda Thirumeni. The temple was originally built by the Pallavas and later expanded by the Cholas, with its current structure dating back to the 16th-century Nayak period. It covers 1.5 acres, featuring a three-tiered gopuram and granite walls. It is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams, glorified in the Tevaram hymns by Tamil Saivite Nayanars like Sambandar.

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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.

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Hola Mohalla is an important festival for the Sikh community which is celebrated after Holi.   This festival promotes unity, bravery and brotherhood. The festival was organized in Roopnagar district, with the first three days in Kiratpur Sahib and the last three days in Anandpur Sahib. This festival includes processions, sports and cultural programs.

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The Ministry of Culture is dedicated to preserving public art installations created under the Public Art of India (PARI) project. PARI, launched by the Ministry of Culture, aims to celebrate and enhance India’s public art scene. It is executed by the Lalit Kala Akademi and the National Gallery of Modern Art. The project showcases diverse regional art forms like Phad, Thangka, Gond, and Warli through over 200 artists. Currently, PARI is implemented only in Delhi. The project blends India’s cultural heritage with contemporary themes, fostering dialogue and reflection in public spaces.

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The North and South Blocks in New Delhi will house the Yuge Yugeen Bharat National Museum. This project is part of the Central Vista Redevelopment Project. The museum will showcase India’s thousands-year-old civilizational and cultural heritage. An agreement was signed on 19th December 2024 between the National Museum and France Museums Development for technical cooperation. The project timeline and budget depend on the feasibility study and further formalities. The museum aims to celebrate India’s heritage, connect the past with the present, and inspire the future. Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat shared this information in Lok Sabha.