Art & Culture Current Affairs MCQs

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Recently, Tripura’s Chief Minister Manik Saha inaugurated the ‘Garia and Borsho Boron Utsav’ 2025 in Agartala’s Swami Vivekananda Maidan, celebrating Tripura’s cultural heritage. The event was organized by the Department of Information and Cultural Affairs along with other government departments. The festival is very important for the Kokborok-speaking Tripuri community, just like Durga Puja is for the Bengali community. It features the traditional Garia Puja, which is a tribal ritual seeking blessings for prosperity. Cultural dances, music by indigenous artists, and traditional food stalls are major highlights.

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The Thrissur Pooram has officially begun with the ceremonial flag hoisting called Kodiyettam at the participating temples. Thrissur Pooram is an annual Hindu temple festival celebrated in Thrissur, Kerala during April-May. It was started by Shakthan Thampuran, the Maharaja of Kochi. Ten temples participate in the festival, including Paramekkavu, Thiruvambadi, Kanimangalam, Karamucku, Laloor, Choorakottukara, Panamukkampally, Ayyanthole, Chembukkavu, and Neythilakavu. The festival features grand Poorams or processions of decorated elephants with traditional percussion music.

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The Ramman Festival, inscribed in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, is celebrated in Uttarakhand. It takes place annually in late April, after the harvest season, in the twin villages of Saloor-Dungra. The festival honours Bhumiyal Devta, the village’s tutelary deity, and holds deep religious significance. The celebration includes complex rituals such as the recitation of a version of the epic of Rama, songs, and masked dances. A key feature is the singing of Jagar, a musical performance that narrates local legends.

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The fifth State-level Shirui Lily Festival 2025 is scheduled to take place in Ukhrul district, Manipur, from May 20 to 24. It is the first State-level festival in Manipur since violence erupted in May 2023. The festival is organised by the Department of Tourism, Government of Manipur. It aims to raise awareness about the endangered Shirui Lily, scientifically known as Lilium mackliniae, the State flower of Manipur. The flower blooms only at Shirui Kashong (Shirui Peak) in Shirui village, around 95 km from the State capital Imphal. The festival promotes sustainable tourism and honours Manipur’s natural heritage.

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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 Shirui Lily Festival 2025 was held after a two-year gap caused by ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities in Manipur. It is a five-day cultural and ecological festival celebrated in Ukhrul district, home to the Tangkhul Naga tribe. The festival honors the Shirui Lily, or Lilium mackliniae, a rare bluish-pink flower found only in the Shirui Hills. The festival promotes cultural pride and raises awareness about the flower’s ecological importance and the need for conservation.

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In the lead-up to International Yoga Day 2025 on June 21, the Union Territory of Ladakh will host a week-long event called Ladakh’s Biggest International Festival of Yoga and Meditation. It will be held from June 15 to 21 at scenic spots like Pangong Lake, Shanti Stupa, Sindhu Ghat on the Indus River, and Nubra Valley. The final celebration will take place at the Astro Turf Stadium, the highest football stadium in India, with civil and defence participants. The event is being organized by the Ladakh Administration and Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre. Themes include Harit Yoga, Samavesh Yoga, and Yoga Unplugged, guided by the Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH). A seminar on Unplugged Yoga will be conducted with the University of Ladakh.

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Prime Minister recently visited the Karni Mata Temple in Rajasthan. The temple is located in Bikaner district, Rajasthan. It is dedicated to Karni Mata, believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Durga. The temple was established by Rao Jaitasi to celebrate the victory of the Bikaner King over Mughal King Kumaran. It belongs to the Shakta Sampradaya, a religious sect devoted to Goddess worship. The temple is unique worldwide because thousands of rats freely move inside it.

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Artists of Madhubani and Gond art recently met President Droupadi Murmu under the Artists-in-Residence Programme – Kala Utsav at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Gond art is practiced by the Pardhan Gond tribes from Madhya Pradesh and nearby Central Indian states. It is a tribal art form linked to storytelling and rituals, originally painted on home walls showing folk tales and nature. Madhubani art, also known as Mithila painting, originates from the Mithila region of Bihar. It is a traditional folk art made mostly by women on walls and floors during special occasions.

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Kerala’s Agriculture Minister recently inaugurated the Njattadi Festival, also known as the Sapling Festival, marking its cultural and agricultural significance. Njattadi is a traditional festival celebrated by farming communities in Kerala to welcome the paddy cultivation season. The word “Njattadi” comes from “Njattuvela”, a term in the Malayalam calendar that indicates the best time for sowing rice seeds. This festival is not just about farming but also celebrates Kerala’s heritage with folk songs like Vanchipattu and Njattu Pattu, along with traditional dances. It reflects the deep link between agriculture, tradition, and seasonal rhythms in Kerala.