Question Discussion & Solution

The correct answer is Valmiki.

• According to 'The Ramayana', Ratnakar was the other name of Valmiki.

Important Points

• Sage Valmiki is revered as adi kavi.
• Valmiki was known as Ratnakar.
• As per Hindu Mythology, it is believed that Narada Muni transformed him into a great devotee of Lord Rama by giving him the Rama Nama mantra.
• Ramayana is the most important Sanskrit epics of ancient India.
  • The epic, traditionally ascribed to the Maharishi Valmiki, narrates the life of Rama, a legendary prince of Ayodhya city in the kingdom of Kosala.
  • It consists of nearly 24,000 verses, divided into five kaṇḍas: the ayodhyakaṇḍa, the araṇyakaṇḍa, the Kiskindhakand, the Sundarkanda, and the laṅkākāṇḍa, and about 500 Sargas (chapters).
  • The Ramayana Grantha depicts the duties of relationships, portraying ideal characters like the ideal father, the ideal servant, the ideal brother, the ideal husband, and the ideal king.

The correct answer is Kalinga Mahotsav, Odisha.

• Kalinga Mahotsav, Odisha is the festival of Martial Dance is celebrated to mark the major victory of peace over war.

Key Points

• Kalinga Mahotsav
  • The festival is celebrated in the month of January and February.
  • It brings together the folk, classical and martial art forms on one stage. Hence, the art form is called Martial Dance.
  • The Kalinga festival was started by a famous Bhubaneswar based Italian Odissi dancer Ileana Citaristi.
  • After the bloodiest war of Kalinga, King Ashoka frantically looked for peace and hence this cultural festival in Odisha is held each year to depict the significance of peace over war.

Additional Information

• Durga Puja:
  • The festival; is celebrated with huge pomp and enthusiasm in Kolkata.
  • It is celebrated between the months of September and October, to mark the victory of Goddess Durga over Mahishasur.
  • In other parts of India, Durga Pooja is celebrated as Navratri.
  • Dussehra marks the culmination of Durga Pooja.
• Chandan Yatra:
  • The festival is celebrated in Puri, Odisha.
  • It is dedicated to Lord Jagannath.
  • The festival is also known as Sandalwood paste festival.
  • It is celebrated in April-May on Akshaya Tritiya.

The correct answer is These are the main two styles of temple architecture in India.

Key Points

• The main component of the Indian temple architecture are the following:
  • Garbhagriha (womb-house):. It is a cave-like structure housing the chief deity of the temple.
  • Mandapa: It is the entrance of the temple.
  • Shikhara/Vimana: It is a mountain-like structure on top. In north India, it is called Shikhara.
    • Shape: Curve.
    • In south India, it is called Vimana.
    • Shape: Pyramidal tower.
  • Amalaka: Notched stone disk at the top of the temple. Mostly seen in north Indian temples.
  • Pedestal: It is a raised platform of stone on which temples are built.

Important Points

Additional Information

• Vesara Architecture:
  • E.g: Ladkhan temple of Aihole.
  • It has two principal components Vimana & Mandapa joined by Antrala.
  • It is a mixture of both Nagara & Dravidian style of temple architecture.
  • It is also known as Chalukya style or Karnataka style.
  • It follows mostly Dravida style up to the boundaries and then Nagara style features in the superstructure.

The correct answer is Karnataka.

Key Points

• Kambala, a traditional buffalo race, was held at Moodabidri in the Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka on 11 December 2021.
• More than 200 pairs of buffaloes participated.
• Kambala is a folk sport, held traditionally by local Tuluva landlords and households in coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udipi of Karnataka and Kasaragod of Kerala, a region collectively known as Tulu Nadu.

Additional Information

•  Below is the List of Animal Sports in India.

The correct answer is Baiga.

Key Points

• Baiga
  • It is a sub-tribe of Gond.
  • The Baigas are semi-nomadic Dravidian tribes and are linked to Indo-Australian aboriginal groups. Hence, Option 1 is correct.
  • The largest number of Baigas is found in Southern districts i.e. Mandla and Balaghat districts of Madhya Pradesh.
  • Some important sub-castes of Baiga are Bijhwar, Narotia, Bharotiya, Nahar, Rai Bhaina, Kadh Bhania, etc.
  • It is believed that the ancestors of the Baigas spoke an Austroasiatic language.
  • Now they are speaking in the ‘Baigani’ language which is a variety of Chhattisgarhi influenced by Gondi and Western Hindi used by the Baigas.
  • The Baigas are true inhabitants of forests, retaining customs, traditions, handed by their ancestors.
  • They are fierce protectors and worshippers of the forests and Mother nature.
  • Five panches of Baiga Panchayat are Mukdam, Deewan, Samrath, Kotawar, and Dawari.
  • The Baigas eat coarse grain, Kodo and Kutki, drink pej (made from grounding macca or from the water left from boiling rice).
  • Tattooing all over the body is an integral part of their lifestyles.

 Additional Information

• The women who work as tattooing artists belong to the Ojha, Badni, and dewar tribes of Madhya Pradesh.
• A weekly market is an important event in the lives of the Baiga people.
• Widow remarriage and bride price are prevalent in this tribe.
• Baiga lives in a joint family and endogamy is prohibited among them.
• Their main dance forms are Karma, Saila, Phaag, etc.
• They have great faith in Magic and the Baiga regard themselves as the most powerful Magician. They worship sal trees.
• Their sacred beliefs prohibit them from plowing the land as this is perceived as traumatizing Mother Earth.
• Baiga depends on agriculture. They adopt the slash and burn form of shifting agriculture known as ‘Webar’ as ‘Pondu’.
• They are courageous woodsmen and hunters and it is below the dignity of a Baiga to become a laborer.