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Answer: built heritage
INTACH Heritage Awards honor individuals and institutions for outstanding work in conserving India's built heritage: monuments, historic cities, and traditional architecture. They promote community participation and sustainable conservation.
Answer: Nalukettu
Nalukettu is Kerala's traditional quadrangular house with central courtyard, sloping tiled roofs, and wooden pillars. Designed for ventilation, rainwater harvesting, and joint family living, it exemplifies climate-responsive architecture.
Answer: True
Chandraketugarh (West Bengal, c. 3rd century BCE-3rd century CE) yielded exquisite terracotta plaques showing court life, deities, animals, and floral motifs. These artifacts reflect the artistic sophistication of early Bengal.
Answer: Chhattisgarh
Pandavani from Chhattisgarh features a lead singer narrating Mahabharata episodes with musical accompaniment (dholak, manjira). Recognized for preserving oral epic traditions and community identity through performance.
Answer: Bharatanatyam
Nritya Choodamani (The Hindu newspaper) honors Bharatanatyam artists for artistic excellence and contribution to the art form. Awarded during December Music Season in Chennai, it is a prestigious recognition in classical dance circles.
Answer: Vikram Samvat
Vikram Samvat (lunar calendar) guides pastoral activities in Rajasthan: breeding, migration, and festivals. Communities like Raikas use it alongside ecological indicators (monsoon, flora) for sustainable livestock management.
Answer: Kerala
Chenda Melam features cylindrical chenda drums played with sticks, creating complex polyrhythms. Central to Kerala's temple festivals like Thrissur Pooram, it exemplifies the integration of music, ritual, and community celebration.
Answer: painting
Raja Ravi Varma Award (Kerala Lalit Kala Akademi) honors contemporary painters who emulate Ravi Varma's fusion of Indian themes and European techniques. It promotes academic realism and cultural storytelling in visual arts.
Answer: Soliga
Soliga tribal community in Karnataka's Biligiri Rangana Hills conserves indigenous rice, millet, and pulse varieties through traditional knowledge and community seed banks. Their practices support agro-biodiversity and climate resilience.
Answer: masks
Purulia Chhau features vibrant, oversized masks made of clay and paper-mache, representing gods, demons, and animals. Mask-making is a specialized craft in Charida village, integral to this UNESCO-recognized dance form.
Answer: handicraft
Shilp Guru award (Ministry of Textiles) honors master artisans in handicrafts for excellence, innovation, and mentorship. Recipients receive a cash prize, tamrapatra, and angavastram, supporting traditional craft livelihoods.
Answer: True
Subhashita Ratna Kosha (10th century) by Kashmiri king Vallabhadeva collects over 2,000 Sanskrit epigrams (subhashitas) on morality, politics, and life. It reflects the sophisticated literary culture of medieval Kashmir.
Answer: Chinese fishing nets
Chinese fishing nets (Cheena vala) in Kochi, Kerala, were introduced by 14th-century Chinese traders. These shore-operated lift nets exemplify historical Indo-Chinese maritime exchange and sustainable fishing practices.
Answer: Visiting Professor
ICCR establishes Visiting Professor/Chair positions in foreign universities to teach Indian languages, philosophy, and culture. This soft diplomacy initiative strengthens global understanding of India's heritage.
Answer: Himalayas
Himalayas are sacred in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, housing pilgrimage sites like Badrinath, Kedarnath, Amarnath, and Kailash. The range symbolizes spiritual ascent and is protected through eco-religious traditions.
Answer: True
Udayagiri-Khandagiri caves (2nd century BCE, Odisha) were excavated under Kalinga king Kharavela for Jain monks. Inscriptions and sculptures depict Jain Tirthankaras, ascetics, and court life, reflecting early Jain patronage.
Answer: Rajasthani/Qawwali
Dafli (frame drum) is used in Rajasthani folk music and Qawwali performances. Its jingles and rhythmic patterns accompany devotional songs, creating an ecstatic atmosphere in Sufi shrines and folk gatherings.
Answer: Gambhari Devi
Gambhari Devi, a Chhau dancer from Purulia (West Bengal), received Padma Shri in 2021 for preserving and promoting this martial dance form. She trains young artists and performs internationally, sustaining cultural heritage.
Answer: sheep/goat
Dhangars are pastoral nomads of Maharashtra who practice transhumance: moving sheep/goat herds between Deccan plateau (monsoon) and coastal Konkan (winter). Their traditional knowledge supports sustainable grassland management.
Answer: Kerala
Panchavadyam ('five instruments') is Kerala's temple percussion art featuring timila, maddalam, ilathalam, idakka, and kombu. Performed during festivals, it showcases complex rhythmic patterns and devotional fervor.