Art and Culture Questions

The correct answer is Gol Gumbaz.

• The Gol (Round) Gumbaz (Dome) is the mausoleum of Muhammad Adil Shah II of the Adil Shahi dynasty of Bijapur.
• Gol Gumbaz is the second-largest dome ever built, next in size only to St Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

Key Points

• Gol Gumbaz:
  • Gol Gumbaz is the most famous monument in Vijayapura. It is the tomb of Mohammed Adil Shah (ruled 1627–1657).
  • A particular attraction in this monument is the central chamber, where every sound is echoed seven times.
  • Another attraction at the Gol Gumbaz is the Whispering Gallery, where even minute sounds can be heard clearly 37 meters away.
  • Its vast dome is said to be the Second Largest dome, unsupported by pillars, in the world, after St. Peter’s in the Vatican City of Rome.

Important Points

• Neela Gumbad:
  • The Nila Gumbad is one of the earliest Mughal era structures and was built in 1530.
  • Nila Gumbad was built on an island in the Yamuna, and later, just abutting to it, when Humayun’s Tomb was built in the year 1569-70, Nila Gumbad and other adjoining structures were incorporated in the complex.
• Chota Imambara:
  • Chota Imambara is one such historical and religious place of Lucknow. Chota Imambara is also known as Hussainabad Imambara.
  • It was built by Muhammad Ali Shah third Nawab of Awadh.
  • The tombs of Muhammad Ali Shah and other members of his family are inside the Imambara.
  • The building is also known as the Palace of Lights because of its decorations and chandeliers during special festivals, like Muharram.
• Chini Ka Rauza:
  • It is the mausoleum of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan's prime minister, Afzal Khan Aalmi, who was also known as Maula Shukrullah,
  • The mausoleum was built in 1635 in Etmadpur (Agra) and is just a kilometre away from the tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah.
  • Chini-ka-Rauza is believed to be the first structure in India to have been embellished extensively using glazed porcelain tiles and is regarded by many as a significant landmark in Indo-Persian architecture.

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 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).

• Lohri, the bonfire harvest festival of Punjab celebrated in the month of Magh, is symbolic of new beginnings.
• The festival is celebrated every year on January 13 with much enthusiasm and zeal.
• It is primarily the harvest festival of the Punjabis.
• This festival denotes the harvesting of the Rabi crops and hence all the farmers get together in order to thank god for giving them such a wonderful harvest.
• The rituals related to Lohri symbolize the attachment of the people with Mother Nature.

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 Maharashtra.

The Aga Khan Palace is located in the state of Maharashtra.

Key Points

• The Aga Khan Palace was built in 1892 by Sultan Muhammed Shah Aga Khan III in the district of Pune in Maharashtra.
• The Palace was an act of charity by the spiritual leader of the Nizari Ismaili Muslims, who wanted to help the poor in the neighboring areas of Pune, who were drastically hit by famine.
• Sultan Muhammed Shah Aga Khan III was the founder of the All India Muslims League.
• Aga Khan Palace served as the prison for Mahatma Gandhi in Pune from Aug 1942 to May 1944.
• Gandhi lived here along with his wife Kasturba, his secretary Mahadev Desai & Sarojini Naidu.
• In fact, both Kasturba Gandhi and Mahadev Desai died in the premises of this Palace turned prison.
• A corner of the Palace premises serves as the Samadhi dedicated to two of them.
• Some of the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi are placed next to the two samadhis.
• Samadhis are nothing but Tulasi plants growing on top of the places where Kasturba and Mahadev Desai were cremated.

Additional Information

Maharashtra

• Maharashtra is the second most populous state in India.
• Mumbai is the financial capital of India.
• The old name of Mumbai was Bombay.
• Maharashtra is the most industrialized and most urbanized state in India.
• Maharashtra is the leading producer of electricity.
• Pune is known as the Cultural capital of Maharashtra.
• Mumbai was the first venue of the first International Film Festival of India (1952).
• The first railway line in India - Bombay to Thane (1853)
• Bombay Stock Exchange(1875) is the oldest stock exchange in India and also the first stock exchange in Asia.
• Gateway of India is situated in Mumbai.
• The headquarter of Central Railway, Western Railway, and Konkan Railway is in Mumbai.
• The headquarters of RBI, LIC, NABARD is in Mumbai.
• The first meeting of the Indian National Congress was held in Bombay (1885).

Uttar Pradesh

• Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state in India.
• Uttar Pradesh is the 'Sugar Bowl of India'.
• Uttar Pradesh has the largest number of monuments in India.
• Uttar Pradesh has the maximum membership (80 seats) in the Lok Sabha.
• Uttar Pradesh shares its boundary with the most number of states in India (9 states - Rajasthan, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh including Delhi and Nepal).
• Asia's first DNA bank is in Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh.
• Uttar Pradesh is the state through which most numbers of the National Highways pass.

Kerala

• Kerala is known as 'God's Own Country.'
• Kerala is the 'Spice Garden of India'.
• Kerala is the state having the highest literacy rate in India.
• Kerala is the first state in India to achieve 100% primary education.
• Kerala is the state having the highest sex ratio in India.
• Kerala is the first baby-friendly state in India.
• Kerala is the first total banking state in India.
• Kerala is the first state in India to set up Disaster Management Authority.

Madhya Pradesh

• Madhya Pradesh is known as the 'Heart of India' and 'Tiger State of India.'
• India's biggest diamond mine Panna is in Madhya Pradesh.
• Indore is the largest city in Madhya Pradesh.
• Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest area in India.
• Madhya Pradesh has the largest scheduled tribe population in India.
• Madhya Pradesh is the first state in India to conduct an election by Panchayath Raj Act 1992.
• Madhya Pradesh is known as the 'Soya State of India'.​

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 Kanada.

Key Points

• The Sanskrit philosopher Kanada Kashyapa (2nd–3rd century) expounded its theories and is credited with founding the school. 
• Vaisheshika, one of the six systems (darshans) of Indian philosophy, significant for its naturalism.
• The Vaisheshika school attempts to identify, inventory, and classify the entities and their relations that present themselves to human perceptions.

Important Points

• The Purva-Mimamsa of Jaimini (400 BCE), the greatest philosopher of the Mimamsa school, posits various deities to account for the significance of Vedic rituals but ignores, without denying, the question of the existence of God. 
• Patanjali also called Gonardiya, or Gonikaputra, (flourished 2nd century BCE or 5th century CE), Authors of two great Hindu classics-
  • The first, Yoga-sutras, a categorization of Yogic thought arranged in four volumes with the titles Psychic Power, “Practice of Yoga,” “Samadhi” (state of profound contemplation of the Absolute), and “Kaivalya” (separateness).
  • the second, the Mahabhashya (“Great Commentary”).
• Gautama was one of the famous seven rishis termed Saptarshi. He was the progenitor of the Gautama gotra. He was the son of Rahugana.

The Correct Answer is Bagurumba.

• The most popular Folk dance of Assam is Bagurumba.
• Bagurumba is a folk dance of the indigenous Bodo tribe in Assam and Northeast India.
• It is a traditional dance that is traditionally inherent to one generation to another generation.
• The Bodo women perform the Bagurumba dance with their colorful dokhna, jwmgra and aronai.
• The dance is also called the "butterfly dance" due to its motion that resembles butterflies.
• The Bagurumga dance is usually performed during the Bwishagu festival of the Bodos in the Bishuba Sankranti or in Mid-April.
• As per the Bodo mythology, the Bagurumba dance is favored by a supreme deity called "Bathou" represented by the Size Plant that belongs to the Euphorbia genus.
• The nature of the dance is peaceful and yet it represents the vitality of the spring.
• The origin of the Bagurumba may be found in the original naturalistic beliefs of the Bodo tribes, as it's few songs are just simple images of nature.
• This dance is an amalgamation of rhythm and vivacity.
• The dancer's hop and swing, bend and unbend, and at times, give the impression of fluttering butterflies.
• Bagurumba dance is generally performed by female dancers.
• Musical instruments like Serja (a bowd instrument), Sifung (flute), and Tharkha ( a piece of split bamboo), accompany this dance.
• Along with these, instruments like Kham, a long drum made of wood and goatskin, and Gongona, a musical instrument of a curved horn is also used.

Extra Facts:-

Raut Nacha:-

• It is the folk dance of Chattisgarh.
• This dance is performed by the Yadavas or the Yaduvanshis who are believed to be the descendants of Lord Krishna.
• A close resemblance of Raas Leela, the dance represents a worshipping Lord Krishna and is performed at the time of 'Dev Udhni Ekadashi".

Ragini:-

• It is the folk dance of Haryana.
• Ragini is a term for the feminine counterpart of a Masculine Raga. These are envisioned to parallel the god-goddess themes in Hinduism, and described variously by different medieval Indian Music Scholars.

Maanch:-

• It is the folk dance of Madhya Pradesh.
• It is performed by Malwa in Madhya Pradesh.
• The word Maanch is derived from the Sanskrit folk form. Manch that is the stage.

The correct answer is Tomb of Sultan Balban.

Key Points

• ​Tomb of Sultan Balban:
  • It is located in Mehrauli, New Delhi.
  • It is considered to be the first structure to have a true dome and an arch.

Additional Information

• Adhai din ka Jhonpra:
  • It is one of the oldest mosques in India and is located in the city of Ajmer, Rajasthan.
  • It is built by Qutb-ud-din Aibak.
• Quwwat ul Islam Mosque:
  • It is located within the Qutub Minar complex at Mehrauli in Delhi.
  • It was built by the Qutub-ud-din Aibak.
• Alai Darwaza:
  • It is the southern gateway of the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque.
  • It is made up of red sandstone.
  • It was built by Alauddin Khalji in 1311 AD.
  • It is located in the Qutb complex, Mehrauli, Delhi.
• Alai Minar An incomplete Minar ambitiously started by Sultan but was left incomplete.