Art & Culture Current Affairs MCQs

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The annual Ice and Snow Festival, famous for its spectacular and large-scale ice sculptures, is hosted in the city of Harbin. Harbin is the capital city of China’s northernmost province, Heilongjiang, and is renowned for this festival which attracts a significant number of tourists each year. This festival features fairy-tale ice sculptures that are illuminated with colorful lights at night, creating a magical winter wonderland. The sculptures, some of which are several stories high, are made from ice harvested from the nearby frozen Songhua River. In addition to the sculptures, the festival includes various activities like ice slides for both children and adults. The event has gained considerable popularity, drawing thousands of visitors daily and contributing significantly to the local tourism economy, particularly after the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions.

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Recently, three items of Arunachal Pradesh have received the prestigious Geographical Indication tag. These are adi kekir (ginger), handmade carpets by Tibetan settlers and wooden items made by Wancho community. Wancho wooden craft items are unique as they feature human heads- tobacco pipes with head-shaped bowls and drinking mugs with carrying heads.

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Lanjia Saura paintings, also known as ekons or iditals, are a unique style of wall mural art from Odisha. The art form belongs to the Lanjia Saura community, a PVTG largely residing in the Rayagada district. These paintings are in the form of exterior murals painted on the mud walls of homes. White paintings figure over a crimson-maroon background. It is believed that the Lanjia Sauras paint their walls with Idital artworks to show gratitude to their deities and forefathers, and also for the well-being of their community. Reflecting the love and affection of the primitive tribes for nature, they feature subjects like tribal humans, trees, animals, birds, the Sun and the Moon.

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Legendary Indian classical dancer Kelucharan Mohapatra was born on 8 January, 1926. He is credited with the revival and popularising the Odissi dance form in the 20 th century. He did extensive research on the traditional ‘Gotipua’ and ‘Mahari’ dance forms, which led him to restructure Odissi.

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The Red Ant Chutney of Mayurbhanj in Odisha has recently been granted a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. The application for registration was submitted by The Mayurbhanj Kai Society Ltd in 2020 under Class 30, as per the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. This unique chutney, also known as Kai Chutney, is rich in valuable nutrients such as proteins, calcium, zinc, vitamin B-12, iron, magnesium, potassium, sodium, copper, and amino acids, contributing to immune system enhancement.

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India’s Prime Minister recently visited Kalaram Mandir in Nashik, Maharashtra, built in 1792 by Sardar Rangarao Odhekar. Situated on the Godavari’s banks, the temple’s name, Kala Ram, signifies the black statue of Lord Ram. Notable features include statues of Ram, Sita, Lakshman, and a Hanuman idol at the entrance. The main temple has 14 steps symbolizing Ram’s exile years and 84 pillars representing the cycle of 84 lakh species to attain human birth.

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The four Shankaracharyas, leaders of Hindu maths established by Adi Shankara, declared their non-attendance at the Ayodhya Ram temple inauguration. Adi Shankaracharya, or Shankara founded maths in Dwarka, Joshimath, Puri, and Sringeri, each safeguarding a Veda. For instance, Govardhan Math in Puri protects the Rig Veda. The Shankaracharyas oversee the Dashanami Sampradaya, a renunciate order. Originating in the 8th century, these maths serve as centers for religious practice, knowledge dissemination, and Vedic literature preservation.

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Representatives from Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra will receive the traditional ceremonial bow, ‘Onavillu,’ from Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The Padmanabhaswamy Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, holds significance in epics and puranas. Balarama is mentioned to have visited, bathed in Padmatheertham, and made offerings. Onavillu, a bow-shaped instrument with puranic inscriptions, is crafted in Karamana, Thiruvanthapuram, and Kerala.

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Odisha’s Chief Minister inaugurated a heritage corridor encircling the revered Jagannath Temple in Puri, one of Hinduism’s most renowned sites. Built in the 12th century during King Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva’s reign, the temple neutralizes the power of Yama, the god of death, according to Hindu beliefs. The Kalinga architectural marvel houses idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra. The annual Rath Yatra festival celebrates Jagannath’s visit to Gundicha Temple, attracting millions. The festival spans nine days, beginning in the lunar month of Ashadha.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage at the origin point of Ram Setu, Arichal Munai, in Tamil Nadu, and visited temples in Andhra Pradesh and Kerala linked to the Ramayana tale. Concluding his South India tour, he offered prayers at Kothandaramaswamy Temple in Rameswaram. The tour included stops at significant religious sites, aligning with cultural and historical significance.