Art & Culture Current Affairs MCQs

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UNESCO has inscribed Pakistan’s Boreendo on the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding list, recognising its cultural fragility and the need for immediate preservation efforts. The Boreendo is a spherical clay vessel-flute that produces soft, mellow and breathy tones traditionally used in folk melodies, pastoral songs and winter gatherings in Sindh. It originated in Keti Mir Muhammad Lund in Sindh, and its lineage traces back to musical artefacts from Mohenjo-daro, linking it to the ancient Indus Valley Civilization. The instrument is handcrafted from terracotta, using sun-dried and kiln-fired clay, which makes it an environmentally sustainable musical craft.

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Madhya Pradesh is developing a unique sustainability plan for the Simhastha Kumbh 2028 in Ujjain, with the goal of making the event environmentally responsible and eligible for carbon credits. The Kumbh is expected to attract nearly 30 crore pilgrims, requiring systems to manage the massive footfall while reducing environmental impact, improving hygiene, and ensuring safety. The Simhastha Kumbh Mela is a Hindu religious festival held every 12 years in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. It is called “Simhastha” because the festival occurs when Jupiter (Brihaspati) enters the Leo constellation (Simha Rashi).

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A 2,000-year-old Buddhist site was discovered in Zehanpora village, Baramulla, Jammu & Kashmir. Excavations revealed stupas, monastic buildings, and other structures from the Kushan period. The discovery highlights Kashmir’s deep-rooted Buddhist history, previously less known. The find was prompted by old blurry photographs of three stupas preserved in a French museum. Archaeologists conducted fresh surveys in Zehanpora, leading to the excavation of the Buddhist complex. The site provides new insights into the ancient civilisation and religious traditions of the Kashmir Valley.

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Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple to reopen on 30 December for Makaravilakku festival, marking the second phase of the annual pilgrimage season. Makaravilakku festival is one of the most sacred events in Kerala, attracting devotees from across India. It is celebrated on the first day of Makara Masam in the Malayalam calendar, coinciding with Makara Sankranti.

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Pakistani archaeologists unearthed rare coins and decorative stones at the Bhir Mound, a UNESCO-listed site near Takshashila, revealing insights into ancient urban settlements. The decorative stones date to the 6th century BCE, while the coins are from the 2nd century CE, belonging to the Kushan dynasty. Coins depict Emperor Vasudeva on the obverse and a female religious deity on the reverse, highlighting Kushan-era religious pluralism. Lapis lazuli fragments, a prized semi-precious stone, indicate long-distance trade, likely sourced from Badakhshan (present-day Afghanistan).

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi commemorated 1,000 years since the first attack on the Somnath Temple in 1026 AD, calling it a timeless symbol of India’s civilisational resilience and unbreakable spirit. The Somnath Temple is located on the coastline at Prabhas Patan in Veraval, in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat. The name “Somnath” means “Lord of the Soma (Moon),” and the site is also known as Prabhasa, meaning “place of splendour.” Somnath is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga sites of Lord Shiva and is a major Hindu pilgrimage centre (tirtha). It is among the five most revered coastal pilgrimage sites of India, along with Dwarka, Puri, Rameswaram, and Chidambaram.

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In Jaipur, nearly 250 families continue to preserve Kathputli, one of Rajasthan’s oldest folk art traditions. Kathputli is a traditional string puppet theatre form that originated in Rajasthan. Historically, travelling performers used Kathputli shows to narrate stories of Rajput kings, brave warriors, folk heroes, and moral tales to village audiences. The word Kathputli comes from kath meaning wood and putli meaning doll, highlighting its simple wooden structure. A Kathputli puppet is made using wood, cloth, thread, and metal wire, with a wooden upper body and cotton and fabric below.

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The Bhadrakali inscription is a major 12th-century record confirming the history, development, and royal patronage of the Somnath Temple. It is located at Prabhas Patan, Gujarat, on the wall of the Bhadrakali Temple. It was carved in 1169 Common Era (CE), corresponding to Valabhi Samvat 850 and Vikram Samvat 1255, and is protected by the State Department of Archaeology. It records Somnath Temple’s construction across four yugas: gold in Satya Yuga by Chandra (Soma), silver in Treta Yuga by Ravana, wood in Dvapara Yuga by Shri Krishna, and stone in Kali Yuga by King Bhimdev Solanki.

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Makaravilakku, also called Makara Jyothi or Makara Vilakku, is the most sacred festival of Sabarimala Temple in Kerala. It is celebrated on Makara Sankranti, usually on 14–15 January, marking Lord Ayyappa’s divine presence. Devotees believe a holy light appears on Ponnambalamedu hills, symbolising Lord Ayyappa’s blessings. Lord Ayyappa is believed to have settled in Sabarimala after defeating demoness Mahishi. Makaravilakku represents victory of light over darkness and spiritual self-realisation.

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A rare 233-year-old Sanskrit manuscript of the Valmiki Ramayana, dating back to 1792 CE (Vikrama Samvat 1849), has been permanently gifted to the Antarrashtriya Ram Katha Sangrahalaya (International Ram Katha Museum) in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. The manuscript was authored by Ādi Kavi Vālmīki and contains a classical commentary (ṭīkā) by Maheshvara Tīrtha, written in Sanskrit using the Devanāgarī script. This gift aims to support the development of the museum as a global centre for Rāmāyaṇa heritage while ensuring wider public access and preservation of the manuscript.