Indian Culture MCQs

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Muzris was an ancient port city in what is now the modern state of Kerala. It was an important trading center in antiquity. There are indications that there may have been a temple dedicated to the Roman emperor Augustus built at Muzris during his reign, reflecting the trade connections between Rome and southern India at that time. However, the exact details and nature of this temple are not well attested in the available historical sources.

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Shesher Kabita is a novel by Rabindranath Tagore, widely considered a landmark in Bengali literature. The novel was serialised in 1928 from Bhadro to Choitro in the magazine Probashi, and was published in book form the following year.

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Laughing Buddha, also known as Budai, is considered an incarnation of the Bodhisattva Maitreya. Maitreya is the Bodhisattva of the Future and is believed to be the fifth and final Buddha of the current kalpa. Maitreya is said to reside in the Tusita Heaven, a realm in Buddhist cosmology. The Laughing Buddha is a popular representation of Maitreya. Budai was a Chinese Zen monk who lived during the Later Liang Dynasty (907–923 CE). His name literally means “cloth sack” and refers to the bag he is often depicted carrying. His jolly nature and eccentric lifestyle distinguish him from most Buddhist masters. The Laughing Buddha is a symbol of happiness and good fortune.

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Punj or Drum dance is a dance that belongs to Manipur. The Pung cholom is a Manipuri dance. It is the soul of Manipuri Sankirtana music and classical Manipuri dance.

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Matrimandir is a spiritual center located in Auroville, in the Union Territory of Puducherry, which is also known as Pondicherry. It is situated in the southern part of India, about 160 kilometers south of Chennai. Auroville was founded in 1968 as an experiment in human unity and international understanding, and it is home to people from over 50 different countries. The Matrimandir is a central feature of Auroville and is considered a symbol of the town’s spiritual and philosophical ideals.

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Gwalior Gharana is one of the oldest Khyal Gharanas of Hindustani classical music. The rise of the Gwalior Gharana started with the reign of the great Mughal emperor Akbar.The favorite singers of this patron of the arts, such as Miyan Tansen, first amongst the vocalists at the court, came from the town of Gwalior.

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Shahtoosh is the name given to a specific kind of shawl, which is woven with the down hair of the Tibetan antelope (chiru), by master weavers of Kashmir. The Shahtoosh shawl is now a banned item with possession and sale being illegal in most countries for the Chiru is an endangered species under CITES.

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The basic motive of Buddha’s teaching is redemption from suffering. He taught that suffering arises from ignorance, craving, and attachment and that these can be overcome through the Eightfold Path, a practical framework for ethical and mental development.
Note: This question has very close alternatives. The basic motive is redemption from suffering but ultimate goal of Buddha’s teachings was to help individuals achieve liberation from the cycle of birth and death (reincarnation) and attain a state of permanent inner peace.

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The string puppets of Odisha are known as Kundhei. Made of light wood, the Orissa puppets have no legs but wear long flowing skirts.

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Triratna, also called Threefold Refuge, in Buddhism the Triratna comprises the Buddha, the dharma (doctrine, or teaching), and the sangha (the monastic order, or community).