1. Kargam is a folk dance of which state?
[A] Kerala
[B] Tamil Nadu
[C] Karnataka
[D] Andhra Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Tamil Nadu]
Notes:
Karagam is a traditional dance of Tamil Nadu, which is performed by male dancers. In this dance, the dancer wears dhoti and garlands, and dons a kalash, or pitcher, filled with water and uncooked rice on his head (as a symbol of life and fertility). The The pitcher, decorated by a flower-bedecked conical bamboo frame, is balanced by the dancer on his head. Karagam dancers move in a procession throughout the village to reach the temple of the goddess, accompanied by the drum called nadaswaram and other instruments.
2. Which among the following sects was founded by Saint Tukaram?
[A] Pranami Sampraday
[B] Varkari Sect
[C] Rudra Sampradaya
[D] Sri Sampradaya
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Varkari Sect]
Notes:
Varkari Sect is founded by saint Tukaram. It is a vasihnavite tradition. It is geographically associated with Maharashtra.
3. Sant Kabir Award has been launched for the people who are related to ___?
[A] Cotton Textile Industry
[B] Woolen Industry
[C] Handloom Industry
[D] Village Industries
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Handloom Industry]
Notes:
The Sant Kabir Award is conferred by Government of India every year on outstanding weavers who have made valuable contribution in keeping alive the handloom heritage and also for dedication in building up linkages between the past, present and future through dissemination of knowledge on traditional skills and designs.
4. Which among the following is the oldest surviving rock-cut cave in India ?
[A] Bagh Caves
[B] Ellora Caves
[C] Uday Giri Caves
[D] Barabar Caves
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Barabar Caves]
Notes:
Barabar Caves in Bihar is one of the oldest surviving rock cut cave in India. It dates from the mauryan empire.
5. In the Indian mythology, who sung Shiva Tandava Stotra?
[A] Ravana
[B] Rama
[C] Kuber
[D] Vibhishana
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ravana]
Notes:
Shiva Tandava Stotra is sung by Ravana in Ramayana. It is a Sanskrit sloka. Ravana is king of Lanka.
6. In context to Buddhist Architecture, a harmika is:
[A] the top railing of a stupa
[B] a square base or foundation corresponding to earth
[C] is a monumental tower at the entrance of a vihara
[D] circular basal rings over which stupa is constructed
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [ the top railing of a stupa]
Notes:
First option is the correct answer. The harmika is the top railing of stupa.
7. Who among the following professed Suddhadvaita philosophy?
[A] Swami Krishnananda
[B] Ramanada
[C] Sri Vallabhacharya
[D] Guru Jambheshwar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Sri Vallabhacharya]
Notes:
Suddhadvaita means pure nondualism. Sri Vallabhacharya was the professor of this philosophy. He completely identified the individual soul with Brahman and did not pledge the distinction between the two. Please note that Vallabhacharya was also known as Mahaprabhuji and he founded the Pushti sect Hindus. These followers are called Pushtimargi which means in English – Path of grace.
8. It is a traditional festival celebrated in the month of March-April after completion of the Jhum operation for agriculture. It is one of three annual festivals of the Mizos tribe celebrated to mark three different stages of the agricultural cycle. This festival is celebrated to thank the gods for saving the people from harm during the clearing of forest on hill slopes for Jhum cultivation at the beginning of a year. The name of the festival is _?
[A] Losar
[B] Kandhei Jatra
[C] Chapchar Kut
[D] Hornbill
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Chapchar Kut]
Notes:
Chapchar Kut is a traditional festival of Mizoram. It is celebrated in the month of March-April after completion of the Jhum operation i.e., jungle-clearing for agriculture. It is one of three annual festivals of the Mizos tribe celebrated to mark three different stages of the agricultural cycle. The festival is to be celebrated to thank the gods for saving the people from harm during the clearing of forest on hill slopes for Jhum cultivation at the beginning of a year. This festival is said to have involved in 1450-1700 A.D. in a village called Suaipui in Mizoram.
9. Who among the following built the Konark’s Sun Temple?
[A] Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva
[B] Narasimhadeva I
[C] Kapilendra Deva Routaray
[D] Purushottam Dev
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Narasimhadeva I]
Notes:
Based on Brahmin beliefs, Konark’s Sun Temple was built in the 13th century by King Narasimhadeva I (1238-1250 CE) of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty and dedicated to Sun God Surya.
10. Who represented India at the Chicago Conference of World Religions in 1893?
[A] Swami Vivekananda
[B] Swami Dayananda
[C] Swami Abhedananda
[D] Ramakrishna Paramhansa
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Swami Vivekananda]
Notes:
Swami Vivekananda represented India and Hinduism at the Parliament of the World’s Religions in1893. This was the first World’s Parliament of Religions and it was held from 11 to 27 September 1893.