Art Culture – GK Questions

Kangra school of Pahari paintings (18th century) is renowned for lyrical depictions of Radha-Krishna themes, especially Jayadeva's Gita Govinda. Characterized by soft colors and naturalistic landscapes.

Durga Puja in Kolkata was inscribed on UNESCO's list in 2021. The festival celebrates Goddess Durga's victory over Mahishasura with elaborate pandals, idol artistry, and cultural performances.

Instituted in 1961, the Jnanpith Award recognizes outstanding contribution to Indian literature in any of the 22 scheduled languages or English. First recipient was G. Sankara Kurup (Malayalam) in 1965.

Nishat Bagh, built in 1633 by Asif Khan, is the second-largest Mughal garden in Kashmir. Terraced along Dal Lake, it exemplifies Charbagh layout with twelve terraces representing zodiac signs.

Mohiniyattam, meaning 'dance of the enchantress', is a classical dance from Kerala. It features lasya (graceful) movements, white-gold costumes, and themes from Vaishnavism.

Dokra is an ancient metal casting craft using the lost-wax technique, practiced by tribal communities in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and West Bengal. Known for tribal motifs and rustic finish.

Rabindra Sangeet comprises over 2,000 songs composed by Rabindranath Tagore in Bengali. They blend Indian classical and folk traditions and are integral to Bengali cultural identity.

Nautanki is a folk theatre form from Uttar Pradesh and North India, known for its rhythmic dialogue, folk songs, and social themes. It was popularized by performers like Gulab Bai.

The Kailasa Temple (Cave 16) at Ellora, Maharashtra, is the world's largest monolithic structure, carved top-down from a single basalt rock in the 8th century by Rashtrakuta King Krishna I.

Tamil was declared India's first Classical Language in 2004, followed by Sanskrit (2005), Kannada and Telugu (2008), Malayalam (2013), and Odia (2014). Criteria include ancient texts and literary tradition.

Pattachitra is a traditional cloth-based scroll painting from Odisha and West Bengal. Themes revolve around Jagannath and Vaishnava lore, using natural colors and intricate borders.

Onam is Kerala's biggest festival, marking the mythical return of King Mahabali. Celebrations include Vallamkali (boat race), Pookalam (flower rangoli), and Sadya (grand feast).

Kuchipudi originated in the village of Kuchipudi in Andhra Pradesh. It combines dance, acting, and dialogue, traditionally performed by Brahmin men. Recognized as classical dance by Sangeet Natak Akademi.

Lucknow is renowned for Chikankari and Zardozi embroidery. Zardozi, meaning 'gold embroidery', uses metallic threads, pearls, and precious stones, and received GI tag for Lucknow Zardozi in 2013.

Pandit Ravi Shankar, a legendary sitar maestro, played a pivotal role in introducing Indian classical music to Western audiences through collaborations with The Beatles and international performances.

The iconic stone chariot is part of the Vittala Temple complex in Hampi, Karnataka. Hampi was the capital of Vijayanagara Empire and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986.

Garba is a traditional folk dance of Gujarat performed during Navratri festival. Dancers move in concentric circles around a lamp or image of Goddess Durga, symbolizing the cycle of life.

The Mahabharata, one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India, is traditionally attributed to Sage Vyasa. It contains the Bhagavad Gita and is considered the longest epic poem ever written.

Tanjore paintings from Tamil Nadu are known for rich surface creation using gold foil, precious stones, and glass beads. They typically depict Hindu deities and were patronized by Nayakas and Marathas.

Odissi is a classical dance form from Odisha, characterized by tribhanga posture and sculpturesque movements. It traces its roots to temple traditions and was recognized as classical in 1970.