Indian Culture MCQs

Notes:
Ghumura is an ancient folk dance that originated from Odisha. As per ancient mythological texts, Ghumura was a war dance of the Gods and Demons. Over the course of time, Ghumurawas imbibed into performing arts and entertainment in Odisha.

Notes:
The lamentation of the Roman writer Pliny in the 1st century A.D refers to heavy drain of Gold from Roman into India in payment of her imports from India. He writes that the drain of Gold is in return for unproductive luxuries. The Roman gold and silver were steadily drained into South India in exchange not only for spices, but also muslin, silk and other costly luxuries.

Notes:
Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community on the full moon in the month of January. It is mainly observe in countries where there is a significant presence of Tamil community such as India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Mauritius, Singapore, Thailand and Myanmar.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
The Lavi Fair is primarily held in Himachal Pradesh, particularly in the town of Rampur Bushahr. This fair, celebrated in November, has historical significance as it dates back to the 16th century and is associated with trade and cultural exchange. It attracts traders and visitors from various regions, showcasing local handicrafts, traditional foods, and folk performances. The fair is a vibrant reflection of the region’s rich cultural heritage.

Notes:
The National Kishore Kumar Award is conferred by the Madhya Pradesh Government in India. This prestigious award, named after the legendary Indian actor, playback singer, director, and music producer Kishore Kumar, honours exceptional contributions in the Indian film and music industry. It is part of their initiative to promote arts and culture.

Notes:
The Sahitya Akademi, India’s National Academy of Letters, awards literary prizes in 24 languages recognized by the Academy. These languages are: Assamese, Bangla, Bodo, Dogri, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, and Bishnupriya Manipuri.

Notes:
The Ezhuthachan Puraskaram is the highest literary award conferred by the Government of Kerala. Established in 1993, it honors contributions to Malayalam literature and is named after Ezhuthachan, a revered poet often regarded as the father of the Malayalam language. The award aims to promote and recognize literary excellence in Kerala.

Notes:
Samrath Ramdas ji was the spiritual Guru of Chhatrapati Shivaji, who is remembered for his Advaita Vedanta (Non-dualism) text  Dasbodh.

Notes:
The Kathasaritsagar ( or Ocean of the Streams of Stories) is a famous 11th-century collection of Indian legends, fairy tales and folk tales as retold in Sanskrit by Somadeva, a Shaiva Brahmin.