Question Discussion & Solution

The correct answer is the festival of harvesting.

• Makar Sankranthi is an important festival celebrated in most parts of India under different names. It is a festival of harvesting.

Key Points

• Makar Sankranti:
  • It is celebrated in January every year and marks the end of the Winter season and the beginning of a new harvest season.
  • The festival is dedicated to Lord Sun.
  • On this day, the sun enters the zodiac sign of Capricorn or Makar which marks the end of winter months and the beginning of longer days.
• In different parts of the country, Makar Sankranti is celebrated by different names:
  • Lohri: Celebrated in Haryana and Punjab one day before Makar Sankranti.
  • Khichdi: Celebrated in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
  • Pongal: Tamil Nadu
  • Kite Festival: Gujarat.
• Holi is called the festival of colours
• Diwali is called the festival of lights.

The Correct Answer is Vaigai River.

Key Points

• Meenakshi Amman Temple is located on the Southern Bank of the Vaigai River in the temple city of Madurai., Tamil Nadu. 
• This temple dedicated to Thirukamakottam Udaya Aaludaiya Meenakshi, a form of Parvati, and her consort, Sundareshwar, a form of Shiva.
• In this temple, both God and Goddess are worshipped together in separate chambers.
• The temple is at the centre of the ancient temple city Madurai.
• It was built by King Kulasekara Pandya.
• It is a complex made in accordance with the Shilpa Shastra and has 5 main entrances with 14  gateway towers or 'gopurams', golden 'Vimanas', holy sanctums and shrines dedicated to the revered Goddess Meenakshi and many others. 
• It is a major tourist attraction, with thousands of devotees visiting the shrines every day.

Additional Information

The correct answer is Gautam.

Key Points

• Nyaya philosophy is the base on which the higher philosophies of India have been built.
• The founder of this school philosophy is Akshpaad Gautam, who composed the Nyaya sutras.
• It says that all our sufferings are dues to our ignorance, therefore to overcome them acquiring the right knowledge is very important.
• The Nyaya philosophy recognizes sixteen categories and the first category is known as ‘pramāna’ which focuses on the logical and epistemological character of the Nyāya system.
• It professes that there are four independent pramānas (sources of valid knowledge). These are- perception, inference, comparison, and verbal testimony or sabda.
• According to Nyāyikas, perception is the direct and immediate cognition produced by the interaction between the object and sense-organs.
• For perceptual cognition, four elements are necessary. These are- the self, mind, sense organs, and objects.

The correct answer is All of the above.

Key Points

• Papier Mache is a peculiar craft practiced in Madhya Pradesh since very ancient times.
  • In Madhya Pradesh, the main center for papier mache is Ujjain, but it is also practiced in Gwalior, Bhopal, and Ratlam. 
• Stone carving is one of the oldest forms of art and crafts of Madhya Pradesh.  
  • Every region of this state has got a unique and distinct style.
  • Lattice (Jaal) work is the specialty of Gwalior whereas, Tikamgarh and Jabalpur specialize in decorative pieces of work like animals and human statues. 
• Bamboo and cane artwork is a significant part of the rural life of Madhya Pradesh, is hugely used to manufacture utility articles.
  • The tribal communities of Baiga, Gond, and Korku are involved in this craft as well.
  • The skilled craftsmen of the areas like Balaghat, Bastar, Chhattisgarh, Mandla, Shahdol, and Seoni were involved in this artwork.
• Carpet weaving is practiced in Gwalior since the Mughal era.
  • Mandla and Shahdol district is also known for this craft later.
  • Apart from being masters of carpet weaving, the craftspeople of these areas excel in dyeing. 

The correct answer is Kerala.

• Ottamthullal is an art form performed only in Kerala.
• The meaning of Ottamthullal is 'poor man's Kathakali'.
• Kunchan Nambiar created this dance form, as an alternative to the Chakyar koothu.
• To protest against the prevalent socio-political structure and prejudices of the society, Kunchan Nambiar used it as a medium.
• Now it is a famous folk art presented in the temples of Kerala.
• Some other dance forms of Kerala:
  • Theyyam
  • Thiruvathirakali
  • Chakyar Koothu
  • Koodiyattam
  • Kathakali(Classical)
  • Mohiniattam(Classical).