Culture Flashcards

Question

Alamgirpur

Answer 1

Impression of a cloth on a trough

Answer 2

Dayaram Sahni

Answer 3

R.D.Banerjee

Answer 4

John Marshall after the first discovered site, Harappa

Answer 5

The project is sanctioned under “Rural Circuit theme of Swadesh Darshan Scheme” with central financial assistance. • It is one of the projects identified for development under the Special Package for Bihar announced in 2015. Significance of the Places • Chandrahia: It is a village in Bihar’s East Champaran district, holding a special position in the Champaran movement because (1916) Gandhiji was stopped at this village when he was on his way to the hamlet of Jasaulipatti to listen to problems faced by farmers who were being forced to cultivate indigo instead of food crops. • Bhitiharwa: This was one of the centre for social work selected by Gandhiji, when he was in Champaran in 1917. There is a Gandhi Ashram where Mahatma Gandhi had stayed during the Indian Freedom struggle. • Turkaulia: It was a burning centre of Indigo agitation. It has been widely referred to as “Turkaulia Concern” in context of Champaran Satyagraha to refer to the plight of indigo cultivators.

Answer 6

(Central Sector Scheme) • Ministry of Tourism (MoT) launched the Scheme for integrated development of theme based tourist circuits in the country in 2014-15. • This scheme aims to synergise with other Government of India schemes like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Skill India, Make in India etc. with the idea of positioning the tourism sector as a major engine for job creation, driving force for economic growth, building synergy with various sectors to enable tourism to realise its potential. • Under the Swadesh Darshan scheme, thirteen thematic circuits have been identified, for development namely: North-East India Circuit, Buddhist Circuit, Himalayan Circuit, Coastal Circuit, Krishna Circuit, Desert Circuit, Tribal Circuit, Eco Circuit, Wildlife Circuit, Rural Circuit, Spiritual Circuit, Ramayana Circuit and Heritage Circuit.

Answer 7

The UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has named the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro as the World Capital of Architecture for 2020.

Answer 8

* It is a joint initiative of UNESCO and the International Union of Architects (UIA) launched in 2018. * World Capital of Architecture is intended to become "an international forum for debates about pressing global challenges from the perspectives of culture, cultural heritage, urban planning and architecture". * UNESCO also hosts the UIA’s World Congress, an event that takes place every three years.

Answer 9

o The 125-year-old Old High Court Building in Nagpur, Maharashtra, o Two Mughal-era monuments in Agra ( U.P.): ✓ Haveli of Agha Khan ✓ Hathi Khana o The ancient Neemrana Baori in Alwar, Rajasthan o The Group of Temples at Bolangir, Odisha o The Vishnu Temple, Pithoragarh, Uttarkhand

Answer 10

Recently Gangotri, Yamunotri, Amarkantak, and Parsanath have been included in the list of sites under PRASAD scheme bringing the number of sites under the scheme to 41 in 25 states. Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) scheme • It aims at integrated development of pilgrimage destinations in planned, prioritised and sustainable manner to provide complete religious tourism experience. It focuses on the development and beautification of the identified pilgrimage destinations

Answer 11

It is a unique natural heritage area and is the meeting point of the Vindhya and the Satpura Ranges, with the Maikal Hills being the fulcrum. It is a Hindu pilgrim site where the Narmada River, the Son River and Johila River emerge.

Answer 12

It is the highest mountain peak in the state, the Shikharji temple, an important Jain pilgrimage site, is located here.

Answer 13

Gangotri is a Hindu pilgrim town on the banks of the river Bhagirathi and origin of River Ganges while Yamunotri is the source of river Yamuna

Answer 14

It’s a joint collaborative effort of The Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture, Archeological Survey of India (ASI) and State/UTs Governments to develop the heritage sites/ monuments and making them tourist-friendly. • Under the project private sector companies, public sector companies and individuals with best vision for the heritage site will be selected through a bidding process (Vision Bidding). Successful bidders will be tagged as Monument Mitra. • These ‘Monument Mitras’ are expected to use Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds for providing amenities like toilets, drinking water, accessibility for the disabled, signage, audio guides etc. No funds are given by Ministry of Tourism.

Answer 15

The Department of School Education & Literacy under MHRD has initiated Bhasha Sangam Program – As part of ‘Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat’. • Its objectives are: o To enhance linguistic tolerance and respect, and promote national integration. o To introduce school students to all the 22 Indian Languages of Schedule VIII of the Constitution of India. • This will be run by the State/UT Department of School Education. • This initiative is not mandatory and there would be no formal testing of any kind.

Answer 16

Recently, a proposal was made for a sixth Sikh takht at Guru Nanak Dev’s birth place in Nankana Sahib in Pakistan. Panj Takht: o Akal Takht(Amritsar), set up in 1606 by Guru Hargobind, is the Supreme of Panj takht. o Four Other Takhts: Takht Keshgarh Sahib (Anandpur Sahib); Takht Damdama Sahib (Talwandi Sabo, Bhatinda); Takht Patna Sahib (Bihar) and Takht Hazur Sahib (Nanded, Maharashtra). ✓ These 4 are linked to Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru. It was at Keshgarh Sahib that Guru Gobind Singh raised Khalsa, the initiated Sikh warriors, in 1699 • Control: The three takhts in Punjab are directly controlled by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) which appoints the jathedars (who leads Takht) for these while the two takhts outside Punjab have their own trusts and boards.

Answer 17

Recently Ministry of Culture inaugurated an International Seminar to commemorate the 200th Birth Anniversary of Sikh philosopher, Sri Satguru Ram Singhji, also known as Ram Singh Kuka. * He was born in 1816 in Ludhiana and was a great spiritual guru, a thinker, a seer, philosopher, social reformer, and a freedom fighter. * He fought against the caste system among Sikhs and encouraged inter-caste marriages. * He preached against killing the girl child in infancy, stood firmly against the Sati Pratha and advocated widow remarriage.

Answer 18

* The movement was founded in 1840 by Bhagat Jawaharmal in Western Punjab. * Its basic tenets were abolition of caste and similar discriminations among Sikhs, discouraging the eating of meat and taking of alcohol and drugs, and encouraging women to step out of seclusion. * After the British took the Punjab, the movement transformed from a religious purification campaign to a political one. * During the Mutiny of 1857, Satguru Ram Singhji formally inaugurated the Namdhari movement, with a set of rituals modelled after Guru Gobind Singh’s founding of the Khalsa. * He strongly opposed to the British rule and started an intense non-cooperation movement against them. Led by him, the people boycotted English education, mill made cloths and other imported goods. The Kuka followers actively propagated the civil disobedience. * All followers of satguru are distinguished by the white dress, straight and pressed turban and a woolen rosary. They were required to wear the five symbols of Sikhism, with only exception of the Kirpan (sword). However, they were required to keep a Lathi (a bamboo stave) with them.

Answer 19

• India’s first music museum will be set up in Thiruvaiyaru, Tamil Nadu, which is the birth place of Saint Tyagaraja.

Answer 20

Saint Tyagaraja is one of the Trinity of Carnatic music (other two are Muthuswami Dikshitar and Syama Sastri) and his compositions are outpourings of love, prayer and appeal. He was the most illustrious composer among the trinity and bhakti was the keynote of his compositions. • He firmly believed that nadopasana (the practice of music as an aid to cultivate devotion and contemplation) can lead one to salvation only if it was combined with bhakti. • He mastered selfless devotion without any desire and it was Nishkama Bhakthi. He was an ardent devotee of Lord Rama and majority of his krtis are in praise of Rama. • He set his face against 'narastuti', praise of men for profit or benefit - a philosophy and principle underlying Hindu thought not to debase learning and knowledge. This principle was responsible for the old system of 'gurukulavasa' - of disciples learning at the feet of the master and the master imparting knowledge but not for money.

Answer 21

The Karnataka government has opposed the demand to declare the Sri Guru Dattatreya Bababudan Swami Dargah near Chikkamagaluru as an exclusively Hindu place of worship. • Baba Budangiri shrine - shrine named after the saint Sufi saint Baba Budan, who is revered by both Muslims and Hindus. • Its origin appears to be a syncretization of reverence for an 11th-century Sufi, Dada Hayath (Abdul Azeez Macci); for the 17thcentury Sufi Baba Budan, said to have brought coffee to India; and for Dattatreya, an incarnation of Shiva (or of Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu).

Answer 22

Queen variety of pineapple is declared as Tripura's state fruit. • It had received Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2015.

Answer 23

Jammi Chettu

Answer 24

Palapitta (Blue Jay)

Answer 25

Jinka (deer)

Answer 26

Tangedu Puvvu

Answer 27

Neem (Vepa Chettu)

Answer 28

Black Buck, also known as Krishna Jinka

Answer 29

Rose Ringed Parakeet (Rama Chiluka)

Answer 30

jasmine (Malle Puvvu)

Answer 31

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the first-ever Philip Kotler Presidential award recently. • Philip Kotler, the Father of Modern Marketing is a professor of marketing at Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management. The award aims to honour mastery in the field of marketing and management. It focuses on the triple bottomline of ‘people, profit and planet’. It will be offered annually to the leader of a nation.

Answer 32

Recently, Prime Minister Narender Modi has been conferred with Seoul Peace Prize 2018. • About Seoul Peace Prize - They were established in 1990 to commemorate the success of the 24th Olympic Games held in Seoul and are awarded biennially to individuals for their contributions to the harmony of mankind, reconciliation between nations and to world peace.

Answer 33

Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has been awarded with Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for the year 2018. • This prize is given annually to organizations and individuals in recognition of creative efforts towards promoting peace, development internationally using scientific discoveries for the greater good of humanity.

Answer 34

The Union Ministry of Tourism recently organized the second edition of “Paryatan Parv”- a nationwide celebration of Tourism. Paryatan Parv is being organized with the objective of drawing focus on the benefits of tourism, showcasing the cultural diversity of the country and reinforcing the principle of “Tourism for All”. • Components of Paryatan Parv o Dekho Apna Desh: It will encourage Indians to visit their own country. It will include stories of India through Travelers’ Eyes to promote tourism. o Tourism for All: It will promote tourism events at sites across all States in country. These will mainly be People’s events with large scale public participation. o Tourism & Governance: It will have interactive sessions and workshops on varied themes like Skill Development in Tourism Sector, Innovation in Tourism etc • India Tourism Mart 2018(IMT-2018): The Tourism Ministry in partnership with the Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality (FAITH) will organize the first ever ITM 2018 during Paryatan Parv. FAITH is the apex organization of all the important trade and hospitality associations of the country

Answer 35

Recently, Ministry of Culture launched a new scheme “Seva Bhoj Yojna”. More about the scheme • It is a central sector scheme to reduce financial burden of Charitable Religious Institutions. • It envisages reimbursing the Central Government share of Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) and Integrated Goods and Service Tax (IGST) of such Charitable Religious Institutions who provide Food/Prasad/Langar/Bhandara free of cost without any discrimination to Public/Devotees. It is applicable to all Charitable institutions which follows following norm: o which have been in existence for preceding five years before applying for financial assistance/grant. o which have been distributing free food, langar and prasad to public for at least past three years on the day of application. o which serve free food to at least 5000 people in a month. o which should not be blacklisted under provisions of FCRA or any other Act/Rules of the Central/State Government.

Answer 36

A team of archaeologists have confirmed that the Vakataka dynasty ruled from its capital Nandivardhan, or the present day Nagardhan in Nagpur district. The Vakataka Empire originated from the Deccan in the mid-3rd century CE. • They were the successors of the Satavahanas in the Deccan and contemporaneous with the Guptas in northern India. • The Vakataka dynasty was a Brahmin dynasty. Little is known about Vindhyashakti, the founder of the family. • Territorial expansion began in the reign of his son Pravarasena I. • The Gupta emperor Chandragupta II married his daughter intro Vakataka royal family. • The Vakatakas are noted for having been patrons of the arts, architecture and literature. The rock-cut Buddhist viharas and chaityas of Ajanta Caves (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) were built under the patronage of Vakataka emperor, Harishena.

Answer 37

led the "Ulgulan" (revolt) or the Munda rebellion against the British in Chota Nagpur area. o In 1894 Birsa declared himself a god, and began to awaken the masses and arouse them against the landlord-British combine. ✓ Munda tribals practiced Khuntkatti system (joint holding by tribal lineages). ✓ But rich farmers, merchants, moneylenders, dikus (outsiders who made the tribal people dependent upon them), thekedars from Northern India came and tried to replace it with typical Zamindari-tenancy system. ✓ These new landlords caused indebtedness and beth-begari (forced labour) among the tribal. o He declared an end to Victorian rule and the establishment of Munda Rule. o He organised the people to stop paying debts/interest to moneylenders and taxes to the British. o He formed two military units - one for military training and armed struggle, the other for propaganda. He declared December 24, 1899, as the day for the launching of the armed struggle. o Finally, on February 3, 1900 Birsa was caught. o As a result of Munda Ulgulan the government enacted Chotanagpur Tenancy Act 1908, recognized Khuntkatti rights and banned Beth Begari (forced labour)

Answer 38

o He led The Rampa Rebellion of 1922, a tribal uprising in Godavari Agency of Madras Presidency, British India during which a band of tribal leaders and other sympathisers fought against the British Raj, which had passed the 1882 Madras Forest Act. ✓ The act put restrictions on the free movement of tribal peoples in the forest prevented them from engaging in their traditional podu agricultural system, which involved shifting cultivation.

Answer 39

o He was an archer and commander-in-chief of the Kurichya soldiers of the Pazhassi Raja who fought British forces in the Wayanad jungles, Kerala during first decade of the 19th century.

Answer 40

The Revolt 1857 was spearheaded in Chhattisgarh by Veer Narayan Singh who was a benevolent jamindar of Sonakhan.

Answer 41

A 216-foot tall statue of Vaishnavite saint Sri Ramanujacharya is set to be unveiled in Hyderabad soon. * It will become the world’s second tallest statue in a seated position and will be called as Statue of Equality, after the statue of the Great Buddha of Thailand (302 feet). * It is made of panchaloha (an alloy of gold, silver, copper, brass and tin/lead) and its base depicts 36 elephants and 27-feet-high lotus petals • Ramanujacharya, or Ilaiya Perumal was a bhakti saint and also spread the message of equality. • His philosophy became known as vishishtadwaita or qualified monism. • He provided an intellectual basis for the practice of bhakti in three major commentaries: the Vedartha-Samgraha, the Shri-Bhashya and the Bhagavadgita- Bhashya. • Though he did not support the idea of the "lower" castes having access to the Vedas, he advocated bhakti as a mode of worship accessible to all including the Sudras and even the outcastes. • While propagating bhakti, he did not observe caste distinctions and even tried to eradicate untouchability.

Answer 42

• Ramanuja's philosophy was called vishistadvaita,or 'qualified monism'. • Ramanuja's God (Brahma) is a personal God with omniscient qualities. • He has created the world, but he has created the world out of His own self. Thus the world bears to Brahman the relation of part to whole, or the relation of a ‘qualified effect’ to the base (hence qualified monism) full of grace and love for his creation. It was one with God, but yet separate. • According to him, the best means of salvation was devotion, and the best yoga was bhakti-yoga,such intense devotion to Vishnu that the worshipper realized that he was but a fragment of God, and wholly dependent on him. Another means of salvation was prapatti,the abandonment of self, putting one's soul completely in the hands of God, trusting in his will, and waiting confidently for his grace.

Answer 43

Raja Yoga, Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga, My Master, Lectures from Colombo to Almora.

Answer 44

• Swami Vivekananda was a great proponent of Vedantic philosophy and he spread Advaita Vedanta to the west via the Ramakrishna Mission. o Advaita Vedanta is a non-dualistic school of Hinduism with its roots in the Vedas and Upanishads which recognizes one reality and one God. o Shankaracharya is the founder of advaita Vedanta. o According to Shankara, the atman experiences a false sense of plurality and individuality when under the influence of the delusive power of maya. A soul becomes liberated from the cycle of rebirth by realizing that its very experience of samsara is an illusion. • Vivekananda attached great importance to the unity of all religions and their fusion into one universal religion. • Swami Vivekananda said in his speech ‘not only tolerate other religions, but positively embrace them, as truth is the basis of all religions.’ • He promoted the idea of the equality of all human beings.

Answer 45

* Kabir’s teachings were based on a complete, indeed vehement, rejection of the major religious traditions and he vouched for Nirguna form of Bhakti. * His teachings openly ridiculed all forms of external worship of both Brahmanical, Hinduism and Islam, the pre-eminence of the priestly classes and the caste system. * It is considered that he got all his spiritual training from his Guru named, Ramananda, in his early childhood. * Kabir Panth is the huge religious community which identifies the Kabir as the originator of the Sant Mat sects. * Kabir Das is the first Indian saint who has coordinated the Hinduism and Islam by giving a universal path which could be followed by both Hindus and Muslims. * According to him every life has relationship with two spiritual principles, Jivatma and Paramatma. His view about the moksha that, it is the process of uniting these two divine principles. * Some of the great writings of the Kabir Das are Bijak, Kabir Granthawali, Anurag Sagar, Sakhi Granth etc.

Answer 46

• The nirguna bhaktas were devotees of a formless God even while calling him variously as Rama, Govinda, Hari or Raghunatha. The most conspicuous among them were Kabir and Nanak. • The saguna bhaktas were devotees of god with attributes or in human form. Vishnu in its incarnations as Rama, or Krishna, are most popular deities that were worshipped by Saguna Bhakti saints. • Thus, Saguna bhakti movement of North India was essentially vaishnavite in character as compared to Southern Bhakti movement which had both Vashnav as well as Shaiv streams.

Answer 47

• About the Project: The proposed project will connect the Dera Baba Nanak Sahib Gurdwara in India's state of Punjab to the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur shrine in Narowal district of Pakistan's Punjab province which is reportedly to be completed before the 550th anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. It runs across the Ravi River. o The Kartarpur Corridor, seeks to visa-free access from India to the shrine inside Pakistan. • About Gurdwara: It was ordered by Maharaja of Patiala between 1921-1929 and is believed to be place where Nanak ji spent about last 18 years of his life.

Answer 48

• He was the founder of Sikhism (the first of the ten Sikh Gurus) and a Bhakti saint. • He was born in 1469 in Nanakana Sahib, Punjab, Pakistan and died in Kartarpur, Pakistan. • Guru Nanak and Sikhism were influenced by the nirguni (formless God) tradition of Bhakti movement in medieval India. • He emphasized the importance of the worship of one God. • He insisted that caste, creed or gender was irrelevant for attaining liberation. • His idea of liberation was not that of a state of inert bliss but rather the pursuit of active life with a strong sense of social commitment. • He himself used the terms nam, dan and isnan for the essence of his teaching, which actually meant right worship, welfare of others and purity of conduct. • His teachings are now remembered as namjapna, kirt-karna and vand-chhakna, which also underline the importance of right belief and worship, honest living, and helping others. • He insisted that his followers must be householders and should adopt productive and useful occupations. They were also expected to contribute to the general funds of the community of followers. • Before his death in 1539, Guru Nanak appointed one of his followers Lehna (later known as Guru Angad) as his successor. Guru Angad compiled the compositions of Guru Nanak, to which he added his own in a new script known as Gurmukhi.

Answer 49

• It is the holy book of the Sikhs. It contains hym of six of the ten Sikh Gurus apart from several holy men coming from the Hindu and the Muslim tradition like Kabir, Ravidas, Ramananda, Namdev, Bhagat Bhikan and Sheikh Farid. • It was compiled by Guru Arjan Dev Ji (5th Sikh Guru) in 1604.

Answer 50

Pakistan issued visas to Indian pilgrims to visit Katas Raj, Pakistan, which is considered one of the holiest places for the Hindu community in Pakistan and is located in the Potohar Plateau region of Pakistan's Punjab province.

Answer 51

• Subhas Chandra Bose on October 21, 1943, established the provisional Azad Hind government in Singapore. He was the leader of Azad Hind Government and also the Head of State of this Provisional Indian Government-in-exile. • It was a part of the freedom movement, originating in 1940s outside India with a purpose of allying with Axis powers to free India from British rule. • The existence of the Azad Hind Government gave a greater legitimacy to the independence struggle against the British.

Answer 52

The idea of INA was first conceived in Malaya by Mohan Singh, an Indian officer of the British Indian Army. • The Indian National Army was founded by prisoners of wars of British Indian Army captured by the Japanese in Singapore, Malaysia and other countries of Southeast Asia during the World War II. • On 1 September 1942, the first division of INA was formed. • The main task of gathering them and forming the INA was carried out by Rashbehari Bose. Later it was reconsolidated as an army by Subhas Chandra Bose. • The INA was also at the forefront of women's equality, and the formation of a women's regiment, the Rani of Jhansi Regiment was formed as an all-volunteer women's unit to fight the British Raj as well as provide medical services to the INA.

Answer 53

Montagu Chelmsford Report (MCR), 1918 reforms along with the Montagu Declaration (1917) are claimed of the title of the Magna Carta of modern India.

Answer 54

The Embassy of India held a ceremony in Haifa to mark the Centenary of the Battle of Haifa when on 23 Sep 1918, Indian soldiers from the Jodhpur, Mysore and Hyderabad Lancers liberated the city of Haifa. Haifa • It is third largest city in Israel. • It is home to the Bahá'í World Centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a destination for Bahá'í pilgrims (one of the religious group in Israel). • The Indian cavalry brigades fighting under the leadership of British General Edmund Allenby helped liberate Haifa from the clutches of the Turkish-German forces inn 1918.

Answer 55

Recently, governing bodies of eight colleges of Sadharan Brahmo Samaj (SBS), has been dissolved by the West Bengal government. The government stated that SBS is not a “separate minority religion”, the related colleges administered by it should be treated as “nonminority Government-aided Colleges. About Sadharna Bhramo Samaj (SBS) • It was formed in 1878 by Anandmohan Bose (first president), Dwarkanath Ganguly and other after a split in Brahmo Samaj of India. o The reason of split was marriage of Keshab Chandra Sen’s 13 year old daughter with Maharaja of Cooch-Bihar which was in violation of Brahmo Marriage Act, 1872. o Keshab and his followers inaugurated Nava Vidhan, as New Dispensation Church, with Keshab as prophet of a universal religion.

Answer 56

• Founded in 1829 as Brahmo Sabha by Raja Ram Mohan Roy. Later it become Brahmo Samaj. Raja Ram Mohan Roy had also established the 'Calcutta Unitarian Committee’ alongwith Dwarkanath Tagore and William Adam as its precursor organisation. Its membership was both Indian and European. • Doctrine: Believe in existence of one God, o No revelation, prophet or holy book is infallible or to be considered as authority. o Human being is created from Singularity • Social and Religious reform: abolition of caste system, child marriage and practice of Sati, opposed idolatry, condemned polygamy, and dowry system. • Brahmos were the first Hindus to defy the taboo about crossing the seas to the west. • In 1843, Devendranath Tagore joined the Brahmo Sabha and renewed its zeal. He started the famous Bengali monthly Tattvabodhini Patrika with Akshoy kumar Datta as its editor. • Keshabchandra Sen was the first non-brahmin to be appointed as the Acharya of the Samaj by Debendranath Tagore. • In 1866, ideological differences between liberal younger Brahmos and conservative older Brahmos led to creation of the 'Brahmo Samaj of India’ under Keshab chandra. Hence forward, the original Brahmo Samaj became known as the 'Adi Brahmo Samaj’ (Rabindranath Tagore assumed its leadership in 1911). o Keshab chandra also established the 'Indian Reform Association’ in 1870 and started the ‘Sulabh Samachar’.

Answer 57

Sabarimala celebrated Makaravilakku festival (two months long annual festival of the temple) on the occasion of Makara Sankranti

Answer 58

Nine different species of Hornbill are found in India in: • Western Ghats: Indian Grey Hornbill, the Malabar Grey Hornbill, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Great Hornbill (state bird of Kerela) • Narcondam Island: Narcondam Hornbill (Endangered) • Others in North-East & Himalayan foothills: Whitethroated Brown Hornbill, Rufous-necked Hornbill (Vulnerable), Wreathed Hornbill, Oriental Pied Hornbill

Answer 59

Recently, Nongkrem dance festival was celebrated at Smit village in Khasi Hills of Meghalaya. About the Nongkrem Dance Festival • It is an annual dance festival celebrated for the harvest thanksgiving and for peace and prosperity for all the community people. • It is one of the most important festival of Khasi tribe – Hima Khyrim during which men, women and children dance to the tunes of drums and pipes. * The celebration begins with the sacrifice of a goat. In fact, the the word Nongkrem means “goat killing ceremony”. * A special dance is performed by the men called ‘Ka Shad Mastieh’ in which they hold sword in their right hand and a whisks in left hand.

Answer 60

• For the first time ever the New South Wales Parliament in Sydney, Australia celebrated the ethnic festival of Bathukamma. • Pochampally Handloom Weavers also got a chance to promote their sarees in this celebration. About Bathukamma • Bathukamma that means ‘Mother Goddess come Alive’ is a colourful floral festival of Telangana celebrated towards the end of monsoon. • Bathukamma is a beautiful flower stack of different unique seasonal flowers most of them with medicinal value, arranged in seven concentric layers in the shape of temple gopuram. • The final day of Bathukamma, known as Pedha or Saddula Bathukamma falls two days before Dussehra.

Answer 61

• The art originated in 18th Century in Pochampally town of Telangana and is locally called as Chit-ku. The town is popularly known as the silk city of India. • These sarees are culturally popular for the Ikat styling and designs (geometrical) imprinted on this fabric. • The Poochampalli Ikat Sarees also have GI tag in their name.

Answer 62

Behdiengkhlam festival was recently celebrated at Jowai, Jaintia Hills District in Meghalaya. It is a traditional festival clebrated after sowing is done seeking a good harvest and to drive away plague and diseases. ("beh dien" means to drive away with sticks and “khlam" means plague or pestilence.) • The festival is observed by 'Pnars' who believe in the traditional faith of "Niamtre". • During the festival young men symbolically drive away evil spirits by beating the roof of every house with bamboo poles. • Women do not participate in the dancing, and have an important function of offering sacrificial food to the spirits of the forefathers. • The main feature of the festival is the making of the "Dein Khlam", "Symlend" and "Khnong", which are rounded, polished and tall trunks of trees. • The people also display their artistic skills by erecting ‘rots’ (tall bamboo structures decorated with colour paper and tinsel). • As part of the celebration, a game similar to football called dat la wakor is also held with each team trying to score a goal with a wooden ball.

Answer 63

• They are also known as Syntengs and Pnars. • They reside in the east part of Meghalaya and they are of an Austrio-Asiatic origin. • They are a matrilineal society as the children take the identity or family title solely from the mother. • Amongst the Jaintias, it is the youngest daughter who inherits property and has the obligation to take care and look after the family. • The tribe is famous for artistic weaving, woodcarving and cane and bamboo work. • Apart from Behdiengkhlam festival, the Laho Dance festivals also an important festivals of the Jaintias.

Answer 64

Ambubachi Mela, a four day annual fair was held recently at Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati, Assam to mark the annual menstruation of Goddess.

Answer 65

• Situated on the Nilachal Hills in Guwahati, Assam, it is one of the 52 Shakti peeths or Seat of Shakti followers. • It is believed to be the site where Hindu deity Sati’s womb and genitals fell after she burned to death. • Kamakhya Devi, the reigning deity, is also worshipped as the Goddess of fertility. • It is also considered as one of the prime seats of Tantric cult.

Answer 66

an annual river festival was celebrated on the bank of Aie River in Chirang District, Assam.

Answer 67

• These are the two hills of Sahyadri range. • The hills have about 10 cave temples belonging to Jainism. • These two peaks have special significance in Jainism because around 990 million Digambar Jains achieved salvation on these two hills. Therefore, the area is called ‘Siddha Kshtera’ (gateway to the state of enlightenment). • Mangi Tungi is also the site of the 108-feet tall statue of Jain Tirthankar Bhagwan Rishabhdev. This is the tallest monolithic Jain statue in the world, erected in 2016. • Before that 57-feet tall Gommateswar statue of Bahubali (Son of Lord Rishabhdev) at Sravan Belagola was the tallest single-rock Jain statue in the world.

Answer 68

• He is the first Jain Tirthankara (spiritual teacher). He is also called Adi Nath. • He introduced the philosophy of Non-Violence. • His symbol or emblem is Bull. • He is considered as the founder of Ikshvaku dynasty to which Lord Rama belonged. Tirthankara (ford-maker): Also called Jina (victor), is a great human being who attains liberation by destroying all his karmas and becomes a role model for every living being. A Tirthankara not only attains salvation himself but also helps all those who are sincerely trying to seek nirvana by preaching and guiding them.

Answer 69

Scheme titled ‘Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage and Diverse Cultural Traditions of India’ is being implemented by the Ministry of Culture • It has objective of reinvigorating and revitalizing various institutions, groups, individuals, identified non-MoC institutions, non-government organisations, researchers and scholars so that they may engage in activities/ projects for strengthening, protecting, preserving and promoting the rich intangible cultural heritage of India. • The scheme is being implemented through Sangeet Natak Akademi, an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Culture

Answer 70

India’s nomination of the architectures of "Victorian and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai” has been included in UNESCO's World Heritage list. • India accepted the renaming of the ensemble as Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai as recommended by the World Heritage Committee. • This is the third site from Mumbai after the Elephanta Caves and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station. • Across India, there are now 37 world heritage sites. With five sites, Maharashtra has the maximum number of sites in India. • India stands second largest in number after China in ASPAC (Asia and Pacific) region. It is overall sixth in the world The Ensemble consists of 94 buildings primarily of 19th century Victorian Gothic revival and early 20th century Art Deco style of architecture with the Oval Maidan in the centre. • Some characteristics of Victorian art are: Use of pointed arches, Heavy stone and brick work, Use of polychromes (contrasting colors) and Bold forms like towers, massive hip and gabled roofs. • Art Deco, also called style modern was movement in the decorative arts and architecture. The Art Deco edifices, with their cinemas and residential buildings, blend Indian design with Art Deco imagery, creating a unique style that has been described as Indo-Deco.

Answer 71

• It is the executive body responsible for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention. • The Convention is an international agreement adopted in 1972 by the Member States of the UNESCO. • The primary mission of the Convention is to identify and protect the world's natural and cultural heritage considered to be of Outstanding Universal Value • Strategic Objectives Of the convention is based on the "Five Cs": Credibility, Conservation, Capacitybuilding, Communication, Communities • The Convention serves as a catalyst to raising awareness for heritage preservation. • The World Heritage Fund, setup under convention, provides financial assistance to States Parties in identifying, preserving and promoting World Heritage sites.

Answer 72

• It is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) based in Paris. • Its declared purpose is to contribute to peace and security by promoting international collaboration through educational, scientific, and cultural reforms in order to increase universal respect for justice, the rule of law, and human rights along with fundamental freedom proclaimed in the United Nations Charter. • The United States and Israel left UNESCO on 31 December 2018.

Answer 73

Recently Geological Survey of India (GSI) chose heritage locations in Maharashtra and Karnataka for UNESCO Global Geopark Network site status. UNESCO Global Geoparks are single, unified geographical areas where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development. • As of now there is no geo-heritage site from India is included under UNESCO Geo park Network.

Answer 74

o It is the world's oldest meteoric crater formed around 50,000 years ago and the only one formed in basalt rock. o It is a salt water lake. o It became a national geo-heritage site in 1979.

Answer 75

o It is a hexagonal mosaic of basaltic rocks in an island off Udupi. o It is estimated to be an 88-million-year old formation that goes back to a time when Greater India broke away from Madagascar. o It was declared a national geo-heritage site in 1975.

Answer 76

• It is an attached office to the Ministry of Mines. • It was set up in 1851 primarily to find coal deposits for the Railways. • Its main function is creation and updation of national geoscientific information and mineral resource assessment. • Its headquarter is in Kolkata. • It has declared 32 Geological Heritage Sites/National Geological Monuments for conservation, protection and maintenance. • GSI or the respective State governments take necessary measures to protect these sites

Answer 77

• It was established in the year 1918 by Mahatma Gandhi with the sole aim of propagating Hindi in southern states. • Hindi Prachar was a movement that emerged as part of Freedom Movement and the leaders who led the nation to "FREE INDIA" felt the necessity of making a single Indian Language the National Language, and through that language unify the people and thereby intensify National Integration. • In 1964, the institution was recognised by the Indian Government as one of the Institutes of National Importance.

Answer 78

A rare dance panel of Nayak period and an inscribed pillar of Chola period have been found on an abandoned brick mound at Pathalapettai near Kiliyur in Tiruchi. • The dance panel is depicted on a stone slab showing four pairs of well-dressed male and female dancers are seen engaged in a ritualistic dance in the panel. • Silappadikaram has references to such ritualistic performances by rural folks. • A round pillar found at the spot has an inscribed base. The base has a Tamil inscription of Chola paleography with a few Grantha letters used in between.

Answer 79

• It was composed during Sangam Period (3rd century BC to 4th century AD). • Silappadikaram (the story of the anklet) written by Ilango-Adigal (Tamil poet and Jaina Monk) is one of the five Great Epics of Tamil Nadu, followed by Manimegalai, Civaka Cintamani, Valayapathi and Kundalakesi. • The epic revolves around Kannagi, who having lost her husband to a miscarriage of justice at the court of the Pandyan Dynasty, wreaks her revenge on his kingdom. • All three of the Tamil kingdoms of the ancient era – the Chola, the Pandya and the Chera – are mentioned in the tale. • It is considered to be one of the greatest poetic works detailing the Tamil culture. It also emphasizes the importance of various religions, town plans and city types, and the mingling of Greeks and Arabs with the Tamil peoples

Answer 80

In Kwangnan province of vietnam • It is a cluster of abandoned and partially ruined Hindu temples in Vietnam, constructed between the 4th and the 14th century AD by the Champa kings of Vietnam. • It has been recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site. • Here many temples were built to the Hindu divinities such as Krishna and Vishnu, but most importantly to Shiva. (the most important of which is Bhadreshvara.) • The temples have a variety of architectural designs symbolizing the greatness and purity of Mount Meru, the mythical sacred mountain home of Hindu gods at the center of the universe. • They are constructed in fired brick with stone pillars and decorated with sandstone basreliefs depicting scenes from Hindu mythology • The Archaeological Survey of India is undertaking the restoration of three temple groups at My Son.

Answer 81

• The Angkor Wat in Cambodia: o It is the largest religious structure ever built. o It was built for the Hindu god Vishnu by the Khmer King Suryavarman II in the period 1113– 50. • Ananda Temple in Myanmar: It is a Buddhist temple. • Bamiyan Buddhas in Afghanistan: It was destroyed in 2001 by the Taliban. • The Ta Prohm Temple in Cambodia • The Vat Phou Temple in Laos

Answer 82

Telangana government and Aga Khan Trust are working to restore the Badshahi Ashoorkhana monument. About Badshahi Ashoorkhana • Badshahi Ashoorkhana is a Shia Muslim mourning place, near Charminar in Hyderabad, India. It was constructed in memory of martyrdom of Imam Hussain in the battle of karbala, and is used during the festival of Moharram. • It was built by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah in 1611, three years after building the Charminar. • Ashoorkhana is famous for its resplendent tile work that have retained their lustre and vibrant colours even after four centuries.

Answer 83

• He was the fifth sultan of the Qutb Shahi dynasty of Golkonda who ascended to the throne in 1580. • He founded the city of Hyderabad and built its architectural centerpiece, the Charminar. He also built Charkaman archways. • He is a contemporary of Tulsidas, Mirabai and Surdas. His poetry is bound to earth and revels in the universality of love and mystic experiences. • During his reign, Jean Baptiste Tavernier visited and wrote about walking into the Qutb Shahi tombs complex where carpets were laid out and whoever walked in was served pulao.

Answer 84

It took place in 680 A.D. Ashoora or 10th day of Muharram. Brief military engagement in a place called Karbala in Iraq, in which a small party led by al-hussain , grandson of the Prophet was defeated and massacred by an army sent by the Umayyad caliph Yazid I. • The battle is remembered by Shiite Muslims (followers of al-hussain) as an annual holy day of public mourning.

Answer 85

* It is one of the oldest structures in India and was commission by 3rd century BCE by Emperor Ashoka. * It is believed that during the reign of Shunga Emperor Pushyamitra Shunga it was vandalised. While under Agnimitra Shunga,son of Pushyamitra, it was refurbished. * During the Satavahans Period the gateways, and the balustrade were built and highly decorated. The gateways commissioned were covered with narrative structures. The figure of Lord Buddha was carved in these structures as canopy under the Bodhi Tree at the point of Enlightenment. Various events of life of Lord Buddha were carved. * The main parts of the Stupa are – Anda, Harmika, Chatri, Pradakshinapatha, Medhi, Vedika and Torana. * The Sanchi Stupa has four beautifully carved Toranas or the gateways which depict various events of Buddhas’ life and Jatakas. * It has been enlisted as UNESCO world heritage site in 1989.

Answer 86

• It was built originally during the Ly Dynasty and was later expanded in 1262 during Tran Dynasty. • It was a place for high-ranking mandarins and the aristocracy of the Tran Royal Court to worship and lead their religious life.

Answer 87

In general, however, "stupa" is the term used for a Buddhist structure in India or Southeast Asia while "pagoda" refers to temple or a sacred building in East Asia which can be entered, and which may be secular in purpose. • Stupa is a hemispherical dome shaped structure which contains relics of remains of Buddha or a Bodhisattva, whereas Pagodas have sets of multiple discs. • Unlike the typical stupa, the pagoda actually has interior space, sometimes on several levels. • Pagodas are found in Nepal, China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Myanmar, Sri Lanka etc.

Answer 88

The Khajuraho Group of Monuments is a group of Hindu and Jain temples in Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh, and is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India. • It was built between 950-1050 AD by the Chandela Dynasty and famous for their nagara-style architectural symbolism and their erotic sculptures (only 10% of all sculptures) * It is built of buff sandstone and usually have been made on high terraces. Almost all the temples have an inner shrine an assembly hall or mandapa, and an entrance portico with circumambulatory passage. * All the towers or shikharas of temple rise high, upward in a curved pyramidal fashion, emphasising the temple’s vertical thrust ending in a horizontal fluted disc called an amalak topped with a kalash or vase. * Some of the temples at Khajuraho are a cluster of five shrines - the main temple surrounded by four others at each corner (Panchayatana) * The Kandariya Mahadeva Temple (largest), the Devi Jagadamba Temple, the Chitragupta Temple, the Vishwanatha Temple, the Parvati Temple, the Lakshamana or Chaturbhuja Temple (dedicated to Vishnu); the Varaha Temple; the Chaunsat Yogini Temple (the only temple made entirely of granite and dedicated to sixty four yoginis) are some of the very famous and worth studying from the art and architectural point of view. * The South-East of Khajuraho is famous for Jain Temples. The Parsvanatha Temple is most important one whereas the Ghantai Temple is named because of the bell and chain ornaments at its pillars.

Answer 89

Odisha • King Narasimhadeva I, the great ruler of the Ganga dynasty had built this temple. Since the ruler used to worship the Sun, the temple was considered as a chariot for the Sun God. • It was designed in the form of a gorgeously decorated chariot mounted on 24 wheels , each about 10 feet in diameter, and drawn by 7 mighty horses. • It is a classic illustration of the Odisha style of Architecture or Kalinga Architecture . • Konark forms the third arm of Odisha’s Golden Triangle (other being Jagannath Temple, Puri, and the Lingaraja Temple of Bhubaneswar). • The temple was used as a navigational point by European sailors. They referred to it as the ‘Black Pagoda’ due to its dark colour and its magnetic power that drew ships into the shore and caused shipwrecks.

Answer 90

shadow puppet theatre | tradition of Andhra Pradesh

Answer 91

• The earliest reference to the art of puppetry is found in Tamil classic ‘Silappadikaaram’ written around the 1st or 2nd century B.C • There are mainly four types of puppet forms in India: String puppets, shadow puppets, rod puppets and glove puppets.

Answer 92

``` String puppets or marionettes have jointed limbs controlled by strings. Some of the famous string puppetry are: o Kathputli, Rajasthan o Kundhei, Odisha o Gombeyatta, Karnataka o Bommalattam, Tamil Nadu. ```

Answer 93

``` Shadow puppets are flat figures which are pressed against a screen with strong source of light behind it to create shadows. Some of the famous shadow puppetry are: o Togalu Gombeyatta, Karnataka o Tholu Bommalata, Andhara Pradesh o Ravanachayya, Odisha o Tolpava Kuthu Vellalachetti, Kerala o Chamadyache Bahulya, Maharashtra ```

Answer 94

Glove puppets are also known as sleeve, hand or palm puppets. The head is made of papier mache, cloth or wood, with two hands emerging from just below the neck and rest of the body is generally a flowing skirt. These puppets are made to produce various types of movements at the hands of a puppeteer. Eg: Pavakoothu, Kerala

Answer 95

Rod puppets are an extension of glove-puppets, but often much larger and supported and manipulated by rods from below. Some of the famous rod puppetry are: o Putul Nautch, West Bengal o Odisha Rod Puppet o Yampuri, Bihar

Answer 96

Project Aipan was started with an aim to revive Aipan, an art form which hails from the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, India. More about Aipan art • The background is prepared with red clay, called geru, and the designs are created with a white paste made from rice flour. • Traditionally it was made on walls and floors.

Answer 97

Raman Spectroscopy is now being used to ascertain if gold or gemstones on Thanjavur paintings are fake or not. • Thanjavur painting is a form of miniature painting that flourished during the late 18th and 19th centuries. However, its origin can be traced back to early 9th century. • It is characterised by bold drawing, techniques of shading and the use of pure and brilliant colours along with semi-precious stones, pearls and glass pieces. • The conical crown appearing in the miniature is a typical feature of the Tanjore painting. • Gold is extensively used in Thanjavur paintings as the glitter makes it more attractive as well as prolongs the life of the painting. • It has also been granted Geographical identification tag.

Answer 98

An example under this school is Astasahasrika Prajnaparamita (Buddhism)

Answer 99

Kalpasutra and Kalakacharya-Katha are the two very popular Jain texts repeatedly written and illustrated with paintings.

Answer 100

Various painting collections in this era include - Tuti-nama, Hamzanama, Gulistan of Sadi, Razm-nama, Darab-nama, Ayar-i-Danish & Anwar-i-sunavli (under Jahangir)

Culture Flashcards

(124 cards)