Art & Culture Current Affairs MCQs

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Cheiraoba is considered to be one of the most important festivals of Manipur and it marks the beginning of the lunar new year for the people of Meitei community of Manipur and across the globe. The festival is also called as Sajibu Nongma Pānba which means “First day of Sajibu Month”.

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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.

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A three-day India-Nepal Literature Festival was organized in Vrindavan, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. It was conducted by Geeta Shodh Sansthan, affiliated with Uttar Pradesh Braj Teerth Vikas Parishad, and Krantidhara Sahitya Academy, Meerut. More than 180 litterateurs, writers, journalists, and educationists from India and Nepal participated. The festival aimed to promote and enhance the literary and cultural heritage of both countries. It encouraged the exchange of literature and culture. Cooperation between Indian and Nepali litterateurs was strengthened. Traditional and contemporary literature gained new direction and recognition.

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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.

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Ancient relics around 2,000 years old from the Megalithic Period were discovered in Manimoola village, Bandadukka, Kerala. A Megalith is a large stone used in building prehistoric monuments, either by itself or with other stones. These structures were made for burial purposes, called sepulchral, and for commemorative rituals, called non-sepulchral. Most Megaliths in India belong to the Iron Age, which lasted from 1500 BCE to 500 BCE. Some megalithic sites in India are even older and go back to 2000 BCE, showing a long history of early human settlements.

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The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has discovered four ancient rock art sites in Mizoram, dating between the 16th and 19th centuries. In Maite village, Saitual, a cliff showed carvings of human figures, animals, gongs, mithun heads, and symbols. In Lianpui, Champhai, carvings included fish, dao (a machete), hornbills, weapons, and rectangular chambers. In Tualte, Khawzawl, mithun heads, humans, and geometric shapes were etched on rocks. At Chhawrtu, carvings included circular motifs, rows of heads, and fish. These artworks show the cultural and artistic legacy of ancient Mizo inhabitants. The ASI linked these sites to the Vangchhia region in Champhai, earlier identified as a major ancient settlement or lost civilisation. The ASI has submitted a report, and the sites are proposed for official protection.

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The Lakkundi temples in the Gadag district of Karnataka are set to be finalized for UNESCO’s tentative listing as World Heritage Sites. Lakkundi, historically referred to as ‘Lokki Gundi’ in ancient inscriptions, was built during the reign of the Kalyana Chalukyas or Western Chalukyas. The village is home to over 50 ancient temples and 101 stepped wells, known as Kalyani. The Kasi Vishwanatha Temple is the most ornate and elaborately furnished among them. Lakkundi is also an important Jain center, with a significant Jain temple dedicated to Mahavira, which is one of the largest and oldest Jain shrines in the area.

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After 12 years, Uttarakhand is hosting the Pushkar Kumbh Mela at Keshav Prayag in Mana village. Pushkar Kumbh is a sacred Vaishnavite pilgrimage held every 12 years when Jupiter enters Gemini. It takes place at the confluence of the Alaknanda and Saraswati rivers in Mana village, Uttarakhand. The site is spiritually important as Ved Vyas composed the Mahabharata here. Saints like Ramanujacharya and Madhvacharya are believed to have received divine knowledge from Goddess Saraswati at this place. Though smaller than other Kumbh Melas, it attracts many devotees, especially from South India.

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The Supreme Court has recently allowed the Uttar Pradesh government to carry out its ₹500 crore development plan for the Shri Banke Bihari Temple Corridor in Vrindavan. Shri Banke Bihari Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Krishna, located in Vrindavan, Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh. The word “Banke” means bent in three places, and “Bihari” refers to the supreme enjoyer, describing the idol’s posture. The temple was established by Swami Haridas, guru of the legendary musician Tansen. Built in 1864, it showcases fine Indian craftsmanship with oil paintings of deities.

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The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), along with the World Monuments Fund India (WMFI) and the TCS Foundation, has recently completed the conservation of Rajon ki Baoli. Rajon ki Baoli, also called Rajon ki Bain, is a 16th-century stepwell located in Mehrauli Archaeological Park, South Delhi. It was built in 1506 CE by Daulat Khan during the rule of Sikander Lodi of the Lodi dynasty, the last dynasty before the Mughals. The stepwell showcases Lodi-era architecture and traditional water conservation techniques. It served as a water source and summer retreat, mainly used by masons for drinking and cooking.