Art & Culture Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
The Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Temple in Karnataka recently welcomed the Karnataka government’s formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe alleged mass secret burials of unidentified bodies at the pilgrimage centre. SIT was formed after public demand to investigate alleged secret burials of unidentified bodies at Dharmasthala between 1998 and 2014. The temple is a major Hindu pilgrimage site located in the town of Dharmasthala, Karnataka. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva, worshipped here as Lord Manjunatha. The temple has a history of around 800 years.

Notes:
The 11th Malabar River Festival, an international white-water kayaking championship, held on July 27, 2025, in Kerala. The three-day event is organized by Kerala Adventure Tourism Promotion Society (KATPS) and Kozhikode District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC). It is supported by Indian Kayaking & Canoeing Association (IKCA) and local panchayats. Events are held on Iruvazhinjipuzha and Chalippuzha rivers.

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Recently, the Prime Minister offered prayers at Brihadeeswara Temple in Tamil Nadu. The Prime Minister was welcomed by temple priests with “poorana kumbham”, a traditional temple honour. Brihadeeswara Temple is also called Peruvudaiyar Kovil and is located in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. It is a fine example of Dravidian architecture from the Chola Period. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, represented by a massive Lingam. It was built around 1010 AD by Chola king Rajaraja Chola I.

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A photo exhibition on the Gavri festival of the Bhil tribe of Mewar is being showcased for the first time at the India International Centre Art Gallery. Gavri is a 40-day ritual held annually after Raksha Bandhan by the Bhil community in Rajasthan to honour Gorkhiya Mata. Bhil troupes perform khels (dance-dramas), songs, and religious rituals in villages, especially where their married sisters and daughters live. The drama combines dialogue, music, and vibrant costumes, also called Gavri or Rai Nach.

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The Supreme Court of India has agreed to hear a petition to repeal the Bodh Gaya Temple Act of 1949. The petition demands replacing it with a central law for better governance of the Mahabodhi Temple in Bihar. The Mahabodhi Temple marks the site where Gautama Buddha attained Enlightenment (Bodhi). It is one of the four most sacred Buddhist sites, along with Lumbini, Sarnath, and Kushinagar. It is located in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, on the banks of the Niranjana River.

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The Kodali Karuppur silk sari, once a luxury garment patronised by the Maratha kings of Thanjavur, is now facing a crisis due to declining traditional handloom weavers. It is named after Karuppur, a village near Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu. These handwoven saris, dhotis, and furnishings combined hand painting, block printing, and brocade weaving, popular till the 19th century. They evolved under Serfoji Raja Bhonsle Chhatrapati II (1787-1832) and were made for the Ranis of Thanjavur. The sari does not have a GI (Geographical Indication) tag.

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A newly found unidentified early hominin fossil may represent a new species. It confirms that Australopithecus and Homo species coexisted in the same African region and timeframe. Australopithecus is a genus of extinct primates, closest relatives of humans (genus Homo). They lived between 4.4 million to 1.4 million years ago during the Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs. Fossils were discovered in eastern, north-central, and southern Africa. The name means “southern ape,” first identified in South Africa. The most famous specimen is “Lucy,” a 3.2-million-year-old fossil from Ethiopia.

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The Nagpur city of Maharashtra recently celebrated the iconic Marbat festival, attracting lakhs of devotees. The festival featured colourful processions and satirical effigies targeting issues like US import tariffs, Pakistan-backed terrorism, and local civic concerns. ‘Marbat’ and ‘Badgya’ are symbolic of evil and are taken out in a procession during Tanha Pola. The effigies are called Pili (Yellow) Marbat and Kaali (Black) Marbat. They are carried on a 10 km procession through the lanes of Itwari and East Nagpur before being burnt. The burning of these effigies is believed to remove all negativity.

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The annual Mela Patt festival recently began in Doda district, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). The festival is dedicated to Lord Vasuki Nag, the presiding deity of Bhaderwah Valley. Rooted in Nag culture, it commemorates the historic meeting between Mughal Emperor Akbar and King Nag Pal of Bhaderwah. The festival has been celebrated since the 16th century. It was first observed when Bhaderwah was known as Bhadarkashi. The festival is observed every year on Nag Panchami, seven days after the Kailash Yatra, it is inclusive of all communities. Dhakku dance, the traditional dance of Dogras, is also performed. The festival highlights religious traditions, historical legacy, and cultural pride of Bhaderwah.

Notes:
Karma Puja, a traditional folk festival, is observed on Ekadashi Tithi of the bright fortnight in Bhadrapada (Bhado) month. In 2025, the Karam Festival was celebrated on Wednesday, September 3. Sisters observe a fast for the long life of their brothers and worship the sacred Karam branch. The Karam branch symbolizes divinity and nature, revered by tribal communities. The festival is significant in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Odisha.