National Gallery of Modern Art
Focus: GS I- Art and culture Why in News? National Gallery of Modern Art to organize a host of educational activities and programs under the theme of ‘Power of Museums’ during week long celebrations of International Museum Day from 16th-20th May About National Gallery of Modern Art Founded in 1954, as the premier museum of modern art […]
Karaga Festival
Context: The centuries-old Karaga (temple fair) festival was recently held at the Dharmaraya Swamy Temple in Bengaluru. Relevance: GS I- Festivals Dimensions of the Article: Karaga Festival Cultural significance of Karaga Karaga Festival It is held every year in the Hindu calendar’s Chaitra month (March/April), and its origins may be traced back to the epic […]
Odisha’s Lingaraj Temple Ordinance
Context: The Central government has told the Odisha government that its ordinance to bring the 11th-century Lingaraj temple in Bhubaneswar and its associated temples under a special law is outside the legislative competence of the state legislature. It also said the ordinance is in conflict with the rules laid down under the Ancient Monuments and […]
Puri Jagannath Temple
Context: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has asked the Odisha government to tweak its much vaunted Shree Mandira Parikrama Project (SMPP) — a massive beautification project around the 12th-century Jagannath temple in Puri — which has already run into a controversy. Relevance: GS I- Art and Architecture Dimensions of the Article: Shree Mandira Parikrama […]
New Year Festivals
Focus: GS I- Festivals, Facts for Prelims Why in News? The President of India greeted the people on the eve of “ Chaitra Sukladi, Ugadi, Gudi Padwa, Cheti Chand, Navreh and Sajibu Cheiraoba.”. These festivals of the spring season mark the beginning of the traditional new year in India. Chaitra Sukladi: It is the start of […]
What is Theyyam?
Context: Recently, Kerala Tourism department have started live streaming of an annual temple festival called Theyyam performances, to promote cultural tourism. Relevance: GS I- Art and Culture What is Theyyam? Theyyam is a popular ritual form of dance worship in Kerala and Karnataka, India. It is also performed during the ‘Kaliyattam festival’. It is a popular tradition of thousands of […]
Konark Sun Temple
Context: Konark, which occupies a prominent place in India’s tourism map due to the Sun Temple, is going to be the first model town in Odisha to shift from grid dependency to green energy. Relevance Focus: GSI – Architecture Dimensions of the Article: About Konark Temple Achieving Net Zero About Konark Temple Konark was built […]
Narsinh Mehta
Context: Recently, researchers of Bhakta Kavi Narsinh Mehta University (BKNMU), Junagadh, discovered a new species of spider and named it Narsinhmehtai in honour of Narsinh Mehta, the 15th century poet who was a devotee of Lord Krishna, and ‘to put his name on global map.’ However, members of Nagar sub-caste group of Brahmin community, in which Mehta was […]
Sri Ramanujacharya
Context: President has expressed confidence that Srirama Nagaram, the venue of the Statue of Equality — the 216-ft pancha loha statue of poet saint Sri Ramanujacharya — would become a renowned spiritual destination for people from across the country and abroad. Relevance: GS I- Art and Culture, History Dimensions of the article: About Statue of Equality About […]
Chintamani Padya Natakam
Context: Andhra Pradesh government banned a 100-year-old play named ‘Chintamani Padya Natakam’ The Arya Vysya community has been petitioning governments for several years to ban the play, saying it portrays them in a negative light. The play is exhibited across the state, mainly in rural areas, during festivals and fairs. Relevance: GS I- Art and Culture Dimensions of […]