Art & Culture Current Affairs MCQs

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Recently, Telangana is preparing for the biennial Sammakka–Saralamma Jatara starting 28 January 2026 along with redevelopment of the Medaram sacred area. It is a biennial tribal spiritual festival honouring Sammakka and Saralamma, ancestral goddesses of the Koya Adivasi community. It is recognised as Asia’s largest tribal festival and among the world’s biggest human congregations. The festival is held at Medaram village in Mulugu district, Telangana. The site lies inside Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary in the Dandakaranya forest belt. It is celebrated during the full moon of the Hindu month of Magh.

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Recently, the Prime Minister of India witnessed a performance of the traditional Bagurumba dance in Assam, with over 10,000 artistes participating. Bagurumba is a folk dance of the Bodo community, inspired by nature and associated with peace, fertility, joy, and collective harmony. It is performed during festivals like Bwisagu (Bodo New Year) and Domasi. The dance symbolises blooming flowers and the harmony between humans and nature.

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The Supreme Court refused to hear a petition against ‘VIP darshan’ at Shri Mahakaleshwar Temple, saying courts should not act as gatekeepers for temple entry. Shri Mahakaleshwar Temple is a Hindu temple located on the banks of the Shipra River in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas (sacred Shiva shrines) in India. The temple is mentioned in ancient Hindu scriptures, Puranas, and works of poet Kalidas.

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The Union Minister of State announced plans for the comprehensive development of Kondaveedu Fort. Kondaveedu Fort, also called Kondavid Fort, is located in Andhra Pradesh. It was built during the Telugu Choda period and later strengthened by the Kakatiya dynasty. Prolaya Vema Reddy made it his capital in 1323 CE. The fort was later ruled by the Gajapathis of Odisha, Bahmani Sultans, Vijayanagara Empire, Golconda Sultanate, Mughals, French, and British. Its architecture shows a blend of Hindu and Islamic styles using granite and lime mortar. It has an advanced water conservation system with ponds and recent findings of ancient Buddhist stupa remains.

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President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the Bastar Pandum festival at Jagdalpur in Bastar division of Chhattisgarh. This festival takes place in the Bastar district to showcase traditional tribal arts, handicrafts, folk costumes, cuisine, and culture, featuring tribes like the Gond, Maria, and Muria. The festival hosts divisional-level competitions till 9 February, with more than 700 artists from 84 teams performing tribal dances, handicrafts, traditional cuisine, and indigenous music.

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Sekrenyi is a ten-day post-harvest festival celebrated in Nagaland. It is the major annual festival of the Angami Naga tribe and is primarily observed during the month of February. The festival focuses on cleansing, renewal and spiritual sanctification of individuals and community. Rituals begin with people bathing at village wells as a symbol of purity. Angami tribe is a major Naga tribe of Nagaland mainly living in Kohima region and known for rich cultural traditions.

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The Leh Dosmochey festival and Stromochey festival at Likir Monastery are celebrated simultaneously in Ladakh from 15 February. Leh Dosmochey is celebrated in Leh town with great religious devotion and traditional grandeur. The festivals symbolise the victory of good over evil in Buddhist tradition. Monks perform sacred tantric mask dances as the main ritual highlight. The celebrations mark the end of the harsh winter season in Ladakh. They signal the beginning of preparations for the new agricultural season.

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The Prime Minister’s new office complex Seva Teerth is inspired by the architecture of the Chennakeshava Temple. The temple, also called Keshava or Vijayanarayana Temple, is a 12th century Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu in Karnataka. It was commissioned in 1117 CE by King Vishnuvardhana after his victory over the Cholas at Talakkad. The temple is located on the banks of the Yagachi River in Belur, also known as Velapura. It was built over three generations and took 103 years to complete. It is an important example of Hoysala architecture and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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India’s first Chadar Mahotsav of the Jain community will be held from 6–8 March 2026 in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. The festival will honor the 872-year-old garments of Dada Shri Jindatt Suri Maharaj, kept in the Jain temple library. more than 150 Jain saints and 30,000 devotees are expected. The garments, preserved since VS 1945, are believed to have remained intact during cremation and an epidemic.

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Attukal Pongala is celebrated on 3 March at Attukal Bhagavathy Temple. Attukal Pongala is celebrated in Kerala. It is one of the largest gatherings of women in the world and entered Guinness World Records in 2009 with over 2.5 million participants. The festival honours Goddess Attukal Bhagavathy, incarnation of Kannaki, symbolising women power and devotion. The 10 day festival begins with Kappukettu ritual and ends with priests blessing the offering and sprinkling holy water.