Indian Culture MCQs

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Varaha Avatar, the third incarnation among the 10 Dashavatara of Lord Vishnu, is in the form of a Boar. In his third incarnation, Lord Vishnu as Varaha saved the earth from demon Hiranyaksha, thus saving the mankind.

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The Aihole temples were built in the late 7th century by the dynasty of the Chalukyas. It is the largest of a group of over 120 temples at Aihole. The architecture of the temple is predominantly Dravida with Nagara style also is used in certain areas.

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Nagara, Dravida, and Vesara are indeed the three main styles of Indian temple architecture. 1. Nagara: Predominantly found in northern India, characterized by curvilinear shikhara (tower) and intricate carvings. 2. Dravida: Common in southern India, featuring pyramid-shaped towers (vimanas) and extensive use of stone. 3. Vesara: A hybrid style combining elements of both Nagara and Dravida, seen in regions like Karnataka. These styles reflect the diverse cultural and religious influences across India, with temples serving as important architectural and spiritual landmarks.

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Abhanga is kind of devotional poetry / bhajan dedicated to Vittala and the first to sing Abhanga was Sant Tukaram.

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Nabakalebara is a festival observed in the Shree Jagannath Temple at Puri. It marks a symbolic recreation of wooden forms of the four deities of Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra and Sudarshana at Jagannath temple. The occasion occurs every 12th or 19th year of the previous Nabakalebara. The event was in news because Department of Economic Affairs says that coins minted in July 2015, have Lord Jagannath”s depiction incorrect, and calls for more designs.

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Pookalam is a beautiful and intricate floral design or arrangement that is traditionally created during the festival of Onam in the Indian state of Kerala. Onam is one of the most significant festivals in Kerala and is celebrated with great enthusiasm and cultural fervor. Pookalam plays a central role in the festivities, and it is a symbol of the rich cultural heritage of the state.

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The Shatapatha Brahmana has 100 adhyayas. It belongs to Later Vedic Period. It is a prose text describing Vedic rituals, history and mythology associated with the Sukla Yajurveda. According to Shatapatha Brahmana both Devas and Asuras are said to have been born from Prajapati, the lord of creatures.

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The phad painting is a religious scroll painting, traditionally done on a long piece of cloth or canvas, known as phad. This type of painting is mainly practised in Rajasthan and the narratives of the folk deities of Rajasthan, mostly of Pabuji and Devnarayan are depicted on the phads. These paintings are often carried from one place to another by the traditional singers called Bhopas.

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The Bhand Pather is not a monologue but a social drama which incorporates mythological legends and contemporary social satire. Bhands are the traditional folk entertainers and plays of the Bhands are called pather. It is predominantly practised in Jammu & Kashmir.

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Kila Raipur Sports Festival, popularly known as the Rural Olympics, is held annually in Kila Raipur (near Ludhiana), in Punjab, India.