Art & Culture Current Affairs MCQs

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Pakistani archaeologists unearthed rare coins and decorative stones at the Bhir Mound, a UNESCO-listed site near Takshashila, revealing insights into ancient urban settlements. The decorative stones date to the 6th century BCE, while the coins are from the 2nd century CE, belonging to the Kushan dynasty. Coins depict Emperor Vasudeva on the obverse and a female religious deity on the reverse, highlighting Kushan-era religious pluralism. Lapis lazuli fragments, a prized semi-precious stone, indicate long-distance trade, likely sourced from Badakhshan (present-day Afghanistan).

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi commemorated 1,000 years since the first attack on the Somnath Temple in 1026 AD, calling it a timeless symbol of India’s civilisational resilience and unbreakable spirit. The Somnath Temple is located on the coastline at Prabhas Patan in Veraval, in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat. The name “Somnath” means “Lord of the Soma (Moon),” and the site is also known as Prabhasa, meaning “place of splendour.” Somnath is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga sites of Lord Shiva and is a major Hindu pilgrimage centre (tirtha). It is among the five most revered coastal pilgrimage sites of India, along with Dwarka, Puri, Rameswaram, and Chidambaram.

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Somnath Swabhiman Parv is observed at Somnath, Gujarat from 8–11 January. The event marks 1,000 years since the first recorded attack on the Somnath Temple. It aims to convey the message of continuity, resilience and revival of Sanatan culture to future generations. The Somnath Mahadev Temple, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, represents India’s spiritual and cultural legacy. Despite repeated attacks, the temple was rebuilt every time, symbolising endurance and civilisational strength. The observance highlights the unbroken spirit and renewal of Sanatan tradition.

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In Jaipur, nearly 250 families continue to preserve Kathputli, one of Rajasthan’s oldest folk art traditions. Kathputli is a traditional string puppet theatre form that originated in Rajasthan. Historically, travelling performers used Kathputli shows to narrate stories of Rajput kings, brave warriors, folk heroes, and moral tales to village audiences. The word Kathputli comes from kath meaning wood and putli meaning doll, highlighting its simple wooden structure. A Kathputli puppet is made using wood, cloth, thread, and metal wire, with a wooden upper body and cotton and fabric below.

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“Boda Tyohar”, the biggest annual festival of the Hatti tribe, recently began with traditional fervour in Sirmour district of Himachal Pradesh. The Hatti tribe is located along the Himachal Pradesh–Uttarakhand border in the Giri and Tons river basin, tributaries of the Yamuna River. Their name comes from selling farm produce in local markets called Haat. They live in Trans-Giri area of Sirmaur and Jaunsar Bawar region of Uttarakhand with shared traditions.

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The Bhadrakali inscription is a major 12th-century record confirming the history, development, and royal patronage of the Somnath Temple. It is located at Prabhas Patan, Gujarat, on the wall of the Bhadrakali Temple. It was carved in 1169 Common Era (CE), corresponding to Valabhi Samvat 850 and Vikram Samvat 1255, and is protected by the State Department of Archaeology. It records Somnath Temple’s construction across four yugas: gold in Satya Yuga by Chandra (Soma), silver in Treta Yuga by Ravana, wood in Dvapara Yuga by Shri Krishna, and stone in Kali Yuga by King Bhimdev Solanki.

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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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World’s oldest known rock art discovered in Liang Metanduno cave, Muna Island, Indonesia. The artwork is a hand stencil with fingers deliberately narrowed to resemble a claw or animal feature. Uranium-series dating shows the calcium carbonate layer covering the artwork is at least 67,800 years old. This surpasses the previous record of 51,200 years for a wild pig painting in Leang Karampuang cave, South Sulawesi.

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Recent excavations at Lakkundi, Karnataka have uncovered Neolithic-era artefacts, supporting the push for UNESCO World Heritage Site inclusion. Excavation is supervised by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) at the Kote Veerabhadreshwar Temple to uncover buried structures and cultural layers. Lakkundi, formerly Lokkigundi, was known as the “village of hundred wells and temples”. It had historical significance under the Chalukya, Yadava, and Hoysala rulers, serving as the capital of Hoysala king Eradane Ballala in 1192 A.D.

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Kheechna (Bhagoria) Festival is a tribal festival celebrated by the Bhil and Garasia communities. It is observed mainly in western Madhya Pradesh and southern Rajasthan, annually for about seven days in March (Phalguna), before Holi. The festival traditionally allows young men and women to choose partners freely for informal unions. These unions are without formal marriage rituals, priests, dowry, or written documentation. Recent reports highlight adverse impacts on underage girls in rural areas due to the practice.