Indian Culture MCQs

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Mysore painting is an important form of classical South Indian painting that originated in the town of Mysore in Karnataka. These paintings are known for their elegance, muted colours and attention to detail.

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The Manipur Sangai Festival is an annual calendar mega-event of the Government of Manipur spearheaded by the Tourism Department that seeks to showcase and promote the finest of Manipur’s arts & culture, adventure sports, indigenous cuisines, handloom & handicrafts, fine arts, indigenous games & music and various other niche products to a regional, national and global audience.

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Shintoism is a Japanese religion that originated in prehistoric times. The word “Shinto” literally means “the way of the gods”. Shinto is Japan’s indigenous belief system and predates historical records. The practices, attitudes, and institutions that make up Shinto revolve around the Japanese land and seasons and their relation with the human inhabitants. Shinto is classified as an East Asian religion by scholars of religion. Its practitioners often regard it as Japan’s indigenous religion and as a nature religion. Shinto has occupied an important national position for long periods in the history of Japan, particularly in recent times. As Japan expanded and became an empire in the 1900s, Shinto also became an important spiritual support mechanism for justifying Japanese expansion.

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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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Lord Jagannath is primarily associated with Puri, a city in the Indian state of Odisha. The Jagannath Temple in Puri is one of the Char Dham pilgrimage sites and is famous for the annual Rath Yatra, where the deities are paraded on massive chariots. The worship of Jagannath is unique, as he is depicted with a distinctive form, characterized by large eyes and a wooden body. Puri is also known for its rich cultural heritage and is a important center for Vaishnavism.

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“Tower of Silence ” is related to Zorastrians. It is a circular, raised structure built by Zoroastrians for excarnation – that is, for dead bodies to be exposed to carrion birds, usually vultures.

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Donyi-Polo (Sun-Moon) is an indigenous religion followed by Tani and other Tibeto-Burman peoples of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam in Northeast India.

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Saint Surdas ji was an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna and Radha, known for his devotional songs dedicated to Lord Krishna. He composed Sur Sagar (Ocean of Melody), Sur Saravali and Sahitya Ratna. He was blind from birth belong to saguna school of Bhakti Kal.

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The Nayanars were a group of 63 saints specifically associated with Lord Shiva. They were notable figures in Tamil Nadu who propagated the Bhakti Movement with their devotional teachings, poetic expressions, and fervor for their deity. Their heartfelt verses are renowned in Tamil literature. This period marked a significant transition from ritualistic worship towards a more personal and emotional approach towards divinity, contributing significantly to the cultural and spiritual heritage of Tamil Nadu.

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Meera Bai was a Rajput Princess of Merta and daughter-in-law of Rana Sanga of Mewar. She was a great worshipper of Krishna and her collection of devotional songs or poems viz. Mere to Girdhar Gopal doosro na koi, etc. are known as Padavali.