Art & Culture Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
The 17th Kathakali Festival was inaugurated at the Bharata Kalakshetra Auditorium, Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai. The festival is organised by the Kalakshetra Foundation under the Ministry of Culture. The three-day festival is held from 18–20 September 2026 with the theme “Kadha Rasa Sangama – Confluence of Essence of Stories.” Three prominent Kathakali institutions—Sadanam Academy, Kerala Kalamandalam and Margi Theatre—are presenting different productions. The festival opened with “Mandodari”, presented by Sadanam Academy and based on the Ramayana.

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Soorya Krishnamoorthy, renowned performing arts expert, playwright, screenwriter and cultural organiser, passed away at the age of 78 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. He was a former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientist and founded the Soorya Stage and Film Society in 1977. He established the Soorya Festival, a major annual arts and cultural festival held in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The festival showcases music, dance, theatre, cinema, photography and visual arts, featuring Indian and international artists. The Soorya Festival is recognised as one of Asia’s longest-running cultural festivals, with some editions lasting more than 100 days.

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Sikkim hosted its first Chirbirey River Fest 2026. The festival was held at Chirbirey Tar, on the banks of the Rangeet River near Jorethang in South Sikkim. It was organised by the Sikkim Anglers’ Association (SAA) in collaboration with the Fisheries Department, Government of Sikkim. The festival marked the 25th anniversary (Silver Jubilee) of the Sikkim Anglers’ Association. A major attraction was catch-and-release angling, featuring the freshwater mahseer, with fish returned safely to the river.

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Mandar, a traditional folk musical instrument associated with the tribal culture of Jharkhand, has received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. It is officially registered as “Mandar of Jharkhand.” The GI application was filed on 24 September 2021. Its unique identity comes from traditional craftsmanship, locally sourced materials, indigenous production techniques and distinctive sound. The GI recognition provides Mandar artisans with a legal identity linked to Jharkhand and can help expand its market nationally and internationally. Mandar holds an important place in the folk music, dance and community traditions of the state.

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India’s UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List has reached 78 sites after the addition of five new heritage proposals. The five additions are Bagh Cave Paintings, Group of Temples of the Chambal Valley, Udaigiri Caves, Ginnorgarh Fort, and Sites of Satyagraha. Bagh Caves are ancient rock-cut Buddhist monuments located in Dhar district, Madhya Pradesh, on the southern slopes of the Vindhya Range near the Baghani River. They date mainly to the 5th–6th century CE and are known for their Buddhist murals, which show strong stylistic similarities with the paintings of Ajanta Caves. Originally, there were nine caves, but only five have survived.

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Recently, Rachakonda Fort has been highlighted for its potential as an adventure-tourism destination. It is situated atop a rocky hillock at Rachakonda Thanda in the Sansthan Narayanpur mandal of Yadadri Bhuvanagiri (Bhongir) district, Telangana, approximately 60 km from Hyderabad. The fort was built on a hillock surrounded by rocky terrain, making it suitable for trekking and adventure activities. It was built during the 14th century (around 1360 CE) by the Recherla Padma Nayaka dynasty, founded by Singama Nayaka I, who established Rachakonda as their capital after the fall of the Kakatiya Empire.

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Kinnal Art was recently showcased as part of Karnataka’s cultural heritage in the 8th edition of the PM Mementos e-auction. It is a unique, centuries-old traditional wooden craft of Karnataka. It originated in Kinhal village of Koppal district in North Karnataka. The art form dates back to the Vijayanagara Empire and is associated with the 15th–16th centuries. Traditional artisans of Kinnal art are known as Chitragars. They create lightweight wooden toys and religious idols decorated with vibrant colours and a glossy finish. Kinnal Art has a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, recognising its distinctive regional identity.

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More than 18 mementos from Andhra Pradesh are featured in the PM Mementos collection, showcasing the state’s cultural heritage, traditional crafts and public achievements. The collection includes a Kondapalli wooden bullock cart, representing rural life and traditional craftsmanship. Kondapalli wooden bullock cart is a traditional handcrafted toy and decorative showpiece originating from Kondapalli village near Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh. The craft has a history of approximately 400 years and is known for its traditional wooden carving techniques. Kondapalli toys have a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, recognising their regional identity.

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Bathukamma is a traditional flower festival celebrated in Telangana, symbolising nature, cultural heritage and women’s unity. The nine-day festival begins with Engilipula Bathukamma and concludes with Saddula Bathukamma. Women arrange colourful flowers such as Tangedu, Gunugu, marigold and chrysanthemum in a tall, dome-shaped structure. A small idol of Goddess Gauramma, made from turmeric, is placed on top. Women gather in the evenings to sing folk songs, clap and dance around the floral arrangements. At the end of the celebrations, Bathukamma is immersed in a pond or lake.

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Ambaji Mohanthal Prasad, a traditional sweet offered at Gujarat’s Ambaji Temple, received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in October 2026. The application was filed by the Shree Arasuri Ambaji Mata Devsthan Trust. The GI tag provides legal protection against unauthorised copying and recognises the sweet’s geographical origin and traditional heritage. The official certificate was handed over to the trust on 11 October 2026, the opening day of Navratri. Gujarat’s Wadhwani Marcha (Wadhwan Chilli) has also been proposed for GI registration.