Art & Culture Current Affairs MCQs

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Delhi Chief Minister recently warned that no nuisance will be tolerated during the Kanwar Yatra, after glass shards were found on the yatra route in Shahdara. Kanwar Yatra is a yearly Hindu pilgrimage during the month of Shravan (July–August). Devotees called Kanwariyas collect Gangajal (holy Ganga water) from places like Haridwar, Gangotri, Gaumukh, and Ajgaivinath (Bihar). They carry it in Kanwars—bamboo poles with pots hanging on both sides—on their shoulders. The water is offered to Lord Shiva in temples like Kashi Vishwanath, Baba Baidyanath (Jharkhand), and 12 Jyotirlingas.

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The Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Temple in Karnataka recently welcomed the Karnataka government’s formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe alleged mass secret burials of unidentified bodies at the pilgrimage centre. SIT was formed after public demand to investigate alleged secret burials of unidentified bodies at Dharmasthala between 1998 and 2014. The temple is a major Hindu pilgrimage site located in the town of Dharmasthala, Karnataka. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva, worshipped here as Lord Manjunatha. The temple has a history of around 800 years.

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The 11th Malabar River Festival, an international white-water kayaking championship, held on July 27, 2025, in Kerala. The three-day event is organized by Kerala Adventure Tourism Promotion Society (KATPS) and Kozhikode District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC). It is supported by Indian Kayaking & Canoeing Association (IKCA) and local panchayats. Events are held on Iruvazhinjipuzha and Chalippuzha rivers.

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Recently, the Prime Minister offered prayers at Brihadeeswara Temple in Tamil Nadu. The Prime Minister was welcomed by temple priests with “poorana kumbham”, a traditional temple honour. Brihadeeswara Temple is also called Peruvudaiyar Kovil and is located in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. It is a fine example of Dravidian architecture from the Chola Period. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, represented by a massive Lingam. It was built around 1010 AD by Chola king Rajaraja Chola I.

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Recently, a Harappan site was discovered at Ratadiya Ri Dheri in Jaisalmer district, Rajasthan, marking the first Indus Valley settlement in the Thar Desert region. The site belongs to the mature urban phase of Indus Valley Civilization, dated between 2600 to 1900 BCE. It is a 4,500-year-old rural Harappan settlement located near the India-Pakistan border. The discovery connects earlier Harappan sites in northern Rajasthan and Gujarat, filling a major gap in the archaeological map. It provides evidence of cultural and trade continuity across desert regions of northwest India.

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Recently, a tragic stampede near Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar, Uttarakhand claimed 8 lives and injured 28 others. Mansa Devi Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Mansa Devi, a form of Shakti or Goddess Durga. It is situated atop Bilwa Parvat on the Sivalik Hills, the southernmost range of the Himalayas. The temple is also called Bilwa Tirth and is one of the Panch Tirth (Five Pilgrimages) in Haridwar. It symbolizes the deep-rooted tradition of Shakti worship in Northern India.

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A Marathi-Hindi language row has emerged recently at the Vitthal-Rukhmini Temple in Pandharpur, Maharashtra. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vithoba, a form of Lord Vishnu or Krishna, and his consort Rukhmini. It is located on the banks of the river Bhima (also called Chandrabhaga). The temple is one of the 108 Abhimana Kshethrams of the Vaishnavate tradition. The temple follows Hemadpanti style architecture, rebuilt in the 17th century in Deccan style by Peshwas, Shindes, and Holkars.

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Telangana government will host Bathukamma, the nine-day floral festival, from September 21-30, 2025 on air, land, and water. The festival precedes Dasara and involves women worshipping Goddess Gowri on floral arrangements. Celebrations will be inspired by Brazil’s Rio Carnival to attract international tourists and showcase Telangana’s cultural heritage. The state will attempt a Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of women. The nine-day festivities will begin at the Thousand Pillar Temple, Warangal. The initiative highlights Telangana’s efforts to promote tourism, culture, and global recognition of its traditional festivals.

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Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Delhi Chief Minister Smt. Rekha Gupta inaugurated the SARAS Livelihood Fair at Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, Delhi. The fair is organised by the Union Ministry of Rural Development from September 5 to 22, 2025. More than 400 ‘Lakhpati Didis’ from Self-Help Groups are showcasing their products, food, and crafts.

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Ladakh is preparing for the 10th Zanskar Festival on 20th–21st September, a key cultural event of the region. The Zanskar Festival is celebrated in the Zanskar valley, located in the Kargil district of the Union Territory of Ladakh. The festival aims to preserve Ladakh’s heritage, ethnic diversity, and traditions while promoting tourism.