Art & Culture Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Kalamkari art, a once-flourishing hand-painted or block-printed cotton textile tradition, now struggles due to power looms and rising raw material costs. Practiced in Andhra Pradesh, Kalamkari originated in the Tilang region (now Andhra Pradesh and Telangana) during the 16-17th century under the Qutb Shahis of Golconda. The term “Kalamkari” combines “Kalam” (pen) and “Kari” (craftsmanship). It features two distinct styles: Srikalahasti and Pedana.

Notes:
A high-level committee led by an Orissa High Court judge has accelerated the process of opening the Ratna Bhandar treasury of Shree Jagannath Temple after 46 years. Located in Puri, Odisha, the Hindu temple is dedicated to Lord Jagannath and dates back to the 12th century under the Eastern Ganga dynasty. Known for its Kalinga architecture, the temple houses idols of Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra, and hosts the famous Ratha Yatra festival annually.

Notes:
A geospatial analysis using satellite images and ground surveys revealed “huge architectural wealth” buried in the Mahabodhi temple complex in Bodh Gaya, Bihar. The Mahabodhi Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2002, marks the Buddha’s Enlightenment spot. Built by Emperor Asoka in the 3rd century B.C., the current structure dates to the 5th-6th centuries and is a key example of early brick architecture and sculptural reliefs.

Notes:
The Prime Minister of India recently extended wishes for Kharchi Puja, a key festival in Tripura celebrated in July-August on the eighth day of the new moon. The festival, meaning “cleansing of sins,” involves the worship of fourteen deities by the Royal priest, Chantai. Held at the Chaturdasha Devata temple in old Agartala, the seven-day festival includes bathing the deities’ heads in the Saidra river and returning them to the temple.

Notes:
The Sangameshwara Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, has recently been submerged in the backwaters of the Srisailam project in Nandyal district due to heavy inflow from the Krishna River. Located in Andhra Pradesh, the temple was originally built in 740 AD by Chalukya ruler Pulakesin II on the Krishna River bank. It was originally situated where the Tungabhadra and Krishna Rivers merge, 10 km from its current location. To prevent submersion from the Srisailam Dam’s construction, the temple was dismantled and rebuilt at its current site in 1979, maintaining its historical and religious significance.

Notes:
Archaeologists recently found Vattezhuthu and eight Tamil inscriptions at the Thalikiswarar temple in Tirupur district, Tamil Nadu, dating back 1100 years. Vattezhuthu, a syllabic script used in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Sri Lanka, was used to write Tamil and Malayalam. It emerged around the 4th century AD from the Tamil-Brahmi script and evolved into the modern Malayalam script by the 15th century.

Notes:
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has started copying stone inscriptions at the Thalishwarar temple in Tamil Nadu using the estampage method. This involves cleaning the stones, transferring the engravings to maplitho paper, inking it, and recording details. The replicated inscriptions, including those in ancient Tamil scripts from the 9th and 12th centuries, offer insights into historical lifestyles and the temple’s construction by a Chera ruler.

Notes:
The Maharashtra government has declared the geoglyphs and petroglyphs in Ratnagiri as protected monuments under the Maharashtra Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1960. This move addresses concerns about preserving these important cultural artifacts. Geoglyphs and petroglyphs are ancient art from the Mesolithic era, featuring animal figures and footprints that offer insights into prehistoric life and creativity. Over 1,500 artworks are found at around 70 sites in Ratnagiri, covering 210 square meters, with seven sites on UNESCO’s tentative World Heritage list.

Notes:
A Kalamezhuthu workshop was recently organized by the Malayalam Department in Kochi, Kerala. Kalamezhuthu, also known as Dhulee Chithram or Kalam Pattu, is a traditional floor painting art form in Kerala. It is performed during rituals to worship gods like Kaali, Ayyappan, and Vettakkorumakan. The drawings are erased at the end of rituals with musical accompaniment. Natural colors from plants are used for the drawings. Artists usually come from communities like the Kurups, Theyyampadi Nambiars, and Theeyadi Unnis.

Notes:
Hampi, in Central Karnataka, India, needs a balance between preserving its ancient ruins and supporting local communities. Located on the Tungabhadra River, it was the Vijayanagara Empire’s capital from the 14th to 16th century.
Designated a World Heritage Site in 1986. Its architecture mixes Chola, Hoysala, Pandya, Chalukya, and Indo-Islamic styles. Temples are known for their large size, detailed carvings, and depictions from the Ramayana and Mahabharata.