Question Discussion & Solution

The correct answer is Agra.

Key Points

• Salahakul Utsav of Uttar Pradesh
  • Sulh-i Kul was founded to define universal peace, especially for interfaith sensitivity and fair treatment for all, neglectful of religious tenets.
  • This term Sulh-i kul is an Arabic phrase meaning absolute peace.
  • Mughal emperor Akbar introduced this policy in his empire to unite the people of his empire.
  • In Uttar Pradesh, the festival sulahkul a symbol of Hindu Muslim unity is organized in Agra. Hence, Option 3 is correct.

Important Points

• ​Important Fairs & Festivals
  • Taj Mahotsav is organized in Agra.
  • In Uttar Pradesh, on the occasion of the Holi festival, Lattathmar Holi is organized in the barasana.
  • In Uttar Pradesh, the world's largest fair (Kumbh Mela) is organized in Allahabad.
  • Kumbh Mela is organized every 12 years and Ardha Kumbh Mela is organized in the intervals of every 6 years.
  • Dadri's Animal Fair is organized on Kartik Purnima, in Ballia.
  • Magh Mela is organized every year in Allahabad.
  • Haridas Jayanti Festival and Dhrupad Mela are held annually in Bhadrapad Shukla paksha in Mathura, in which the best musicians participate.

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).

Key Points

Mohini Attam:

• Mohiniattam or Mohiniyattam is an Indian classical dance form that evolved in the state of Kerala.
• Mohiniattam is among the two popular dance arts of the state, the other being Kathakali.
• Mohiniyattam is considered a very graceful form of dance meant to be performed as solo recitals by women.
• It is believed to have originated in the 16th century.
• It is one of the eight Indian classical dance forms recognized by the Sangeet Natak Akademi.

Important Points

• Kalamandalam Sathyabhama, the doyen of classical dance form Mohiniyattam passed away in the Palakkad district of Kerala. She was 77.
• She was regarded as a matriarch of Mohiniyattam and was well-known for her experimental reforms in this classical dance form which helped to preserve and popularise the traditional art form. 

Thus, Mohini Attam is a famous dance form of Kerala.

Additional Information

Kuchipudi:

• Kuchipudi, one of the major dance forms of India was originated from Andhra Pradesh.
• It is the traditional dance of the state.
• It grew largely as a product of the Bhakti movement beginning in the 7th Century AD.
• Kuchipudi derives its name from the village Kuchelapuram, where it was nurtured by great scholars and artists who built up the repertoire and refined the dance technique.

Bharat Natyam:

• Bharata Natyam is a form of Indian classical dance that originated in the temples of Tamil Nadu.
• It is known for its grace, elegance, purity, tenderness, expression and sculpturesque poses.

Kathak:

• Kathak is a North Indian dance that originated in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
• The name Kathak comes from the word "Katha" which means a story.

Kathakali:

• Kathakali is a classical Indian dance form which is a story play genre of art is the folk dance form of Kerala.
• Kathakali is the most difficult style of the traditional dance form.
• In this, the actors speak ‘sign language’ where hand gestures are used to dictate word part of the character and facial and eye movements express emotions and mood.
• Kathakali is based on the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata. 

Odissi:

• Odissi is a dance of love and passion touching on the divine and the human, the sublime and the mundane.
• The Natya Shastra mentions many regional varieties, such as the south-eastern style kanharis were the chief repositories of this dance.
• The maharis, who were originally temple dancers came to be employed in royal courts which resulted in the degeneration of the art form.

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 Shehnai.

Key Points

• Ustad Bismillah Khan used to play the shehna
• He was awarded India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, in 2001, becoming the third classical musician after M. S. Subbalakshmi and Ravi Shankar to be awarded Bharat Ratna.
• On his 102nd birthday, Google honoured Bismillah Khan with a Google doodle.
• The Department of Posts issued a five-rupee commemorative stamp on Bismillah Khan on 21st August 2008, on the occasion of his second death anniversary.
• He had the rare honour of being invited by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to play shehnai on the ramparts of the Red Fort on the eve of 15th August 1947.
• He also heralded the first Republic Day celebrations on 26th January 1950.
• Since then the charming strain of his shehnai marked the beginning of Republic Day celebrations every year.