Indian Culture MCQs

Notes:
Vyasa who is the narrator of the Mahabharata, is credited with compilation of the Puranas. Vishnu Purana mentions that Vyasa entrusted his Puranasamhita to his disciple Lomaharshana, who in turn imparted it to his disciples.

Notes:
The Biraja Temple, or Birija Kshetra, is a historic Hindu temple located in Jajpur, Odisha. The present temple was built during the 13th century. The principal idol is Devi Durga, who is worshiped as Viraja. Rajarani Temple is located in Bhubaneswar. It is an 11th-century Hindu temple. Rajarani Temple is built in the pancharatha style. Samaleswari Temple is a Hindu temple in Sambalpur, Western Odisha. This temple is situated on the bank of the river Mahanadi.

Notes:
George Wittet (1878-1926) was a Scottish architect who designed of Bombay’s best known landmarks: the Prince of Wales Museum, the Gateway of India, the Institute of Science, etc. The Gateway of India was built to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to Mumbai, prior to the Delhi Durbar, in December 1911.

Notes:
Kalashram in New Delhi is the institution of Kathak maestro Pandit Birju Maharaj. It focusses on imparting training mainly in the field of Kathak, along with various other associated disciplines i.e. vocal & instrumental music, Yoga, Painting, Sanskrit, Dramatics, Stagecraft etc.

Notes:
In Mohiniyattam, the dancer wears a white or off-white plain sari embellished with bright golden or gold laced coloured brocade embroidered in its borders complimented with a matching choli or blouse. A pleated cloth having concentric golden or saffron coloured bands adorns the front part of the sari from the waist.

Notes:
Nowruz is the Iranian New Year, also known as the Persian New Year. Nowruz is the day of the vernal equinoxand marks the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. It marks the first day of the first month (Farvardin) of the Iranian calendar.It usually occurs on March 21 or the previous or following day, depending on where it is observed.

Notes:
Kuchipudi is one of the eleven major Indian classical dances. It originated in a village named Kuchipudi in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Kuchipudi is a dance-drama performance, with its roots in the ancient Hindu Sanskrit text of Natya Shastra.

Notes:
The most exquisite examples of Gupta period paintings are preserved in the Ajanta caves. These 29 rock-cut Buddhist caves in Maharashtra, India, host a variety of intricate paintings, often depicting animals, flora, human figures, and Jataka tales. The Gupta Age, which produced these artistic wonders, is often regarded as the Golden Age of Indian history. Built around the 2nd century BC, these caves are a testament to the technical finesse and cultural richness of ancient Buddhist civilization.

Notes:
Alai Darwaza and Siri Fort are examples of the Seljuk style of architecture. Khilji Bas ruled from 1290 AD to 1320 AD and established the Seljuk style of architecture. The specialty of the construction of this period is the use of red sandstone. Along with this, the arched style gained prominence in this period.

Notes:
Deewane-Khas, Panchmahal, the palace of the Turkish Sultan was built by Akbar. Others built by Akbar are Khas-Mahal, Jodhabai-Mahal, Mariam-Mahal, Birbal-Mahal, Hiran-Mahal, Jama-Masjid, Hathi-Pol, Buland-Darwaja and the tomb of Sheikh Salim Chishti.