Art & Culture Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
The 2nd Simolu Festival began on February 15, 2025, at Bwisang-Na eco-resort in Barunguri, Laokhowa, Assam. The two-day festival celebrated the blooming Bombax ceiba (Shimul) flowers, eco-tourism, conservation, and local culture. Events included cycling, camping, ethnic cuisine displays, cultural performances, and awareness sessions.

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Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) government has recognized Bathouism as an official religion option in application forms. The move has been praised by Bodo culture and faith experts. Union Home Minister Amit Shah highlighted the initiative at the 13th Triennial Conference of All Bathou Mahasabha. The government has also declared a state holiday for Bathou Puja, emphasizing its commitment to nature-centric faiths. Bathouism is the traditional religion of the Bodos, Assam’s largest plains tribe, mainly living along the Brahmaputra’s north bank. The religion is deeply ancestral but has seen reform movements.

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The Jalanatheswarar Temple in Thakkolam, Ranipet district, Tamil Nadu, is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva is worshipped as Jalantheeswarar, represented by a sand lingam known as Theenda Thirumeni. The temple was originally built by the Pallavas and later expanded by the Cholas, with its current structure dating back to the 16th-century Nayak period. It covers 1.5 acres, featuring a three-tiered gopuram and granite walls. It is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams, glorified in the Tevaram hymns by Tamil Saivite Nayanars like Sambandar.

Notes:
The Jadayaswamy festival was recently celebrated in Tamil Nadu. It is observed by the Badagas, an aboriginal tribe of the Nilgiris. The Badagas live in villages called Hattis and speak the Badugu language. The festival is dedicated to Jadayaswamy, a revered deity, symbolizing faith and tradition. Eight villages organize a procession to the Jadayaswamy temple and perform a firewalk every year.

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The Matho Nagrang Festival is a two-day Buddhist celebration held at the Matho Monastery in Ladakh. It takes place on the 14th and 15th days of the first month of the Tibetan calendar, typically falling in February or March. The festival is known as the “Festival of Oracles” and involves two oracles, or “Rongtsans,” who deliver prophetic guidance to the community. The festival is a significant cultural and spiritual event for the people of Ladakh.

Notes:
Ministry of Culture launched an initiative to preserve Kamba Ramayana recitals in Tamil Nadu. Kamba Ramayana is a Tamil epic, based on Valmiki Ramayana, written by Kambar in the 12th century CE. The epic is celebrated for its poetic excellence and unique spiritual interpretations. Written in classical Tamil, it has 6 Kandams, 113 Padalams, and 10,569 verses. The epic integrates Tamil folk elements and spiritual symbolism, traditionally recited by Kamba Ramayana Mandali in temples. The initiative aims to revive and promote this cultural heritage.

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The Ministry of Culture is dedicated to preserving public art installations created under the Public Art of India (PARI) project. PARI, launched by the Ministry of Culture, aims to celebrate and enhance India’s public art scene. It is executed by the Lalit Kala Akademi and the National Gallery of Modern Art. The project showcases diverse regional art forms like Phad, Thangka, Gond, and Warli through over 200 artists. Currently, PARI is implemented only in Delhi. The project blends India’s cultural heritage with contemporary themes, fostering dialogue and reflection in public spaces.

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President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the Purple Fest 2025 at Amrit Udyan, Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, on March 21, 2025. Purple Fest celebrates the talents, achievements, and aspirations of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), also called Divyangjan in India. The first Purple Fest was held in Panjim, Goa, in January 2023. Organized by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in association with Rashtrapati Bhavan. The event is becoming a flagship programme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for Divyangjan in India.

Notes:
Goa is celebrating the Shigmo Festival from March 15 to March 29. This two-week cultural event marks the arrival of spring in the Konkan region with colorful parades, folk dances, and cultural performances. Goa Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte highlighted its cultural importance as part of Goa’s heritage alongside Carnival. The festival, also called Shigmotsav, is a Hindu celebration coinciding with Phalgun, the month of spring. It is celebrated across 18 constituencies in Goa, honoring both cultural and spiritual traditions.

Notes:
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) discovered over 110 megaliths near Malampuzha dam in Palakkad, Kerala, covering 45 hectares. Malampuzha dam is the largest water barrier and reservoir in Kerala. Megalithic structures were used for burials during the Neolithic and Bronze Ages, built with large stones without mortar. The burials include Cists, Stone Circles, Urns, Dolmens, and Dolmenoid Cists, made from granite and laterite stones. Similar megalithic sites exist in Brahmagiri, Karnataka, and Adichanallur, Tamil Nadu. This discovery may provide new insights into Kerala’s early Iron Age society and beliefs.