PROTECTING ARTISTS AND THE ARTS
Focus: GS-I Art and Culture Introduction Although there is tremendous diversity and excellence of fine arts, performance arts and crafts — folk, classical, and contemporary — there are neither authoritative definitions nor data on the size or shape of “Creative economy”. Troubled times for the creative sector A large section of artists and artisans are […]
NEPAL’S ARCHAEOLOGISTS TO STUDY POSSIBLE RAMAYANA SITE
Focus: GS-I Art and Culture Why in news? Nepal’s Department of Archaeology is holding cross-ministerial meetings to explore an archaeological site in Thori near the border town of Birgunj. Details Nepalese historian said that according to the geographical descriptions in Valmiki’s Ramayana, it appears that Lord Ram’s Ayodhya was located nearer to Janakpur. Nepal’s foreign […]
SC ON PADMANABHASWAMY TEMPLE ADMINISTRATION
Focus: GS-I Art and Culture Why in news? The Supreme Court held that the erstwhile Travancore royal family is the “human ministrant” or the shebait (manager) of the properties belonging to Sri Padmanabha, chief deity of the famed and fabulously rich Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple in Kerala. Details Arguments were raised both to and fro on […]
RE-PRINTED VOLUMES OF MONGOLIAN KANJUR MANUSCRIPTS
Focus: GS-I Art and Culture Why in news? The Ministry of Culture has taken up the project of reprinting of 108 volumes of Mongolian Kanjur under the National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM). Mongolian Kanjur Kanjur / Kangyur The Tibetan Buddhist canon is a loosely defined list of sacred texts recognized by various schools of Tibetan […]
PANCHARATRA AGAMA
Focus: GS-I Art and Culture Introduction Temples like Srirangam and the Varadaraja temple in Kanchi are governed by the Pancharatra agama. Ratra denotes ajnana, and pancha denotes that which destroys ajnana. Lord Narayana has five forms — Para, vyuha, vibhava, antaryami and archa — and hence the name Pancharatra. Ratra also means jnana (knowledge). Jnana […]
DHARMA CHAKRA DAY ON JULY 4
Focus: GS-I Art and Culture Why in news? International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) in partnership with Ministry of Culture, Government of India, is celebrating the upcoming Asadha Poornima on July 4, 2020 as Dhamma Chakra Day. Dhamma Chakra day This dhamma Chakra day celebration aims to keep with the historical legacy of India being the land […]
INTERNATIONAL YOGA DAY 2020
Focus: GS-I Art and Culture, Prelims Why in news? Due to the COVID-19 Lockdown International Yoga Day 2020 is set to go digital internationally. International Yoga Day International Yoga Day is observed on June 21 of every year since the United Nations declared it in 2015. Yoga is inscribed in the list of UNESCO Intangible […]
VANDALISM OF BUDDHIST ROCK ENGRAVINGS IN GILGIT-BALTISTAN
Focus: GS-I Art and Culture, Geography, Prelims Why in news? India has reacted strongly to reports of vandalism and defacement of ancient Buddhist rock carvings in Gilgit-Baltistan under Pakistan’s control. Buddhist Carvings in Gilgit-Balistan Before arrival of Islam in the region of Gilgit-Baltistan the majority of the people were Buddhist and they had engraved the […]
SPIC MACAY’S INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION
Focus: GS-I Art and Culture, Prelims Why in news? Prime Minister addressed the Spic Macay’s International Convention via video conference. New elements in the Spic Macay convention this year like nature walk, heritage walk, literature and holistic food along with Yoga and Naad Yoga were appreciated. SPIC MACAY The Society for the Promotion of Indian […]
100 % SOLARISATION OF KONARK SUN TEMPLE
Why in news? The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has taken up the Complete Solarisation of Konark sun temple and Konark town in Odisha. Details Government of India launched the Scheme with an objective to develop the historical Sun temple town of Konark in Odisha as ‘Surya Nagri’, to convey a message of […]