Indian Culture MCQs

Notes:
The Bhimbetka rock shelters are an archaeological site of the Palaeolithic, exhibiting the earliest traces of human life on the Indian Subcontinent. It is located in the Raisen District in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, near Abdullaganj town and inside the Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary.

Notes:
To pay a befitting tribute to the man of letters, Nobel Laureate, Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, on his 150th birth anniversary, the Government of India has set up a ‘Tagore Centre for the Study of Culture and Civilization’ (TCSCC) at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS), Shimla. The objectives of the Centre include: to encourage the study of Tagore’s work; support translations of Tagore’s work into other Indian languages; promote comparative study of his work with poets, artists and writers in other parts of India and the world; study the elements of his Humanist philosophy and his cosmopolitanism; and explore his concerns regarding the relationship between science and society.

Notes:
Ravidas was an Indian mystic poet-sant of the Bhakti movement during the 15th to 16th century CE. He was a guru in the region of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and mainly Punjab. He was a devotional saint and cobbler by profession.

Notes:
Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, Feast of Dedication, is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple (the Second Temple) in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire of the 2nd century BCE. Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and days, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, which may occur at any time from late November to late December in the Gregorian calendar.

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.

Notes:
The Brahma Sutras is a Sanskrit text, attributed to Badarayana, estimated to have been completed in approx. 400-450 CE. It talks about the vedic philosophy of Vedanta.

Notes:
The Amman and Kalyana Mandapam are regarded as essential components of temple architecture within the Vijayanagara Empire. This empire, founded in 1336 AD by Harihara and Bukka, is characterized by distinctive architectural features:

• Kalyana Mandapam: This is a square, elevated platform enclosed by intricately adorned pillars. It served as the site for ceremonies symbolizing the marriage between the temple’s deity and their consort.
• Amman Shrine: A subsidiary shrine dedicated to the consort of a male deity.
• Raya Gopurams: These are imposing gateways.
• Garbhagriha: The central sanctum of a temple.
• Pillared Halls: Halls featuring elaborately decorated pillars.
• High Towers: Prominent spires.
• Wide Marriage Halls: Expansive halls used for marriage ceremonies.
• Meeting Halls: Spaces for gatherings.
• Spring Pavilions: Pavilion-like structures.

The Vijayanagara Empire drew inspiration from earlier empires, including the Hoysala, Chola, and Chalukya, amalgamating these influences to create a distinctive and unique architectural style.

Notes:
The new 50 rupees banknote from India is in a bright turquoise colour. On the obverse side of the Rs.50 note is a portrait of Mahatmi Gandhi, India’s independence movement leader. On the reverse side of the ₹50 bill is an image of the stone chariot in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hampi.

Notes:
Gandhara art is known for the first sculptural representations of the Buddha in human form. The art was primarily Mahayana and shows Greco-Roman influence. All the Ellora caves ,Ajanta caves and Elephanta caves has the influence of Gnadhara school of art but the Khajuraho temple does not relate to this art form.

Notes:
Generally made as miniatures either as book illustrations or as single works, Mughal painting evolved from the Persian school of miniature painting with Hindu, Buddhist and Jain influences. These paintings evolved during the rule of various Mughal Emperors in India. The paintings often revolved around themes like battles, legendary stories, hunting scenes, wildlife, royal life, mythology, etc. These paintings also became an important medium to narrate the tall tales of the Mughal emperors.