Category: Art and Culture Current Affairs

• The President of India, Smt. Draupadi Murmu presented the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowships (Akademi Ratna) and Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards (Akademi Puraskar) for the years 2019, 2020 and 2021 in New Delhi on 23 February 2023.
• On the occasion, Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowships were awarded to eight eminent personalities in the field of performing arts.
• A total of 128 artists from the fields of music, dance, theatre, traditional, folk and puppetry were honored with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards. These Academy Awards include three joint awards.
• Fellowship of the Akademi (Akademi Ratna) carries prize money of Rs.3,00,000/- (Rupees Three Lakh) and Akademi Award (Akademi Puraskar) carries prize money of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh).
• The award also carries a Tamrapatra and Angavastram.

Click here for the full list of Awards :

The Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav 2023 is being held in Mumbai from 11th to 19th February, organized by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. The event was inaugurated by the Governor of Maharashtra, Bhagat Singh Koshyari, and Union Culture Minister G. Kishan Reddy. The aim of the event is to promote national unity and cultural exchange.

About 350 folk and tribal artists from all over India, along with local artists and classical performers, will entertain the audience with their performances. Additionally, 150 craftsmen and artists will be exhibiting their art and craft work at 70 stalls, and 25 stalls will be set up for the Maharashtra State Handloom department and startups.

The Union Minister of Culture & Tourism, G. Kishan Reddy, also announced the inauguration of a special tourist Babasaheb Ambedkar Circuit train on April 14th, the birth anniversary of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. The Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav is held in different states of India every year and was held in Madhya Pradesh in 2019, and in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in 2022.

On February 12, 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked the beginning of the year-long celebration of the 200th birth anniversary of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Delhi. During the event, the Prime Minister unveiled the official logo for the commemoration and and also offered Ahuti Arpan in the ongoing Yagya. The Prime Minister also symbolically passed on the torch of Maharishi Dayanand’s message to young representatives by handing over a LED torch.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister called the occasion of the 200th birth anniversary of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati historic, an occasion to create a future and inspiration for the entire world. Referring to  Maharishi Dayanand’s ideal of making the world a better place, the Prime Minister said in this era of discord, violence and instability, the path shown by Maharishi Dayanand gives hope.  

Governor of Gujarat, Shri Acharya Devvrat, Union Minister for Culture, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Ministers of State for Culture, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal and Smt Meenakshi Lekhi, President of Delhi Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, Shri Daram Pal Arya, Mahamantri of Delhi Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, Shri Vinay Arya, and President, Sarvadeshik Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, Shri Suresh Chandra Arya, MP Satpal Singh, Swami Yajmuni were present on the occasion among others.

Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati

Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati, born on February 12, 1824, was a revered social reformer and founder of the Arya Samaj. His mission was to challenge the widespread social injustices of his time. Through the teachings and practices of the Arya Samaj, he aimed to promote education and bring about cultural and social change in India. The organization, established in 1875, has had a significant impact on India’s cultural and social landscape, playing a vital role in promoting education and advocating for social reforms.

• On 6 February 2023, At the Grammys 2023 ceremony, Beyoncé won a record-breaking 32nd Grammy Award, while Harry Styles won Album of the Year.
• She won an award each in Best traditional R&B performance, Best R&B song, Best Dance/Electronic Music Album category and Best Dance/Electronic recording category.
• Beyoncé became the most awarded artist in Grammy history during a historic evening in Los Angeles.

• National School of Drama (NSD) will organize the 22nd edition of Bharat Rang Mahotsav (BRM) from 14 to 26 February 2023.
• This prestigious International Theater Festival will be held in Delhi, Jaipur, Rajahmundry, Ranchi, Guwahati, Jammu, Srinagar, Bhopal, Nashik and Kevadia.
• The 22nd Bharat Rang Mahotsav will witness a scintillating display of drama and cultural performances and several thematic panel discussions on the global and strategic importance of theater in a global context.
• Along with the plays, other allied activities will also be organized. These include book releases, directors’ meet, national and international seminars and master classes by stalwarts from the theater fraternity.
• With more than 100 theater companies participating in the festival every year, Bharat Rang Mahotsav has carved a niche for itself.

• India’s Ricky Kej has won a Grammy Award 2023 for his album “Divine Tides”.
• His album was nominated in the Best Immersive Audio Album category. With this achievement, Kej became the first Indian to win 3 Grammy Awards.
• In 2022, Ricky Kej won a Grammy at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards for his album “Divine Tides”, a collaboration with rock and roll legend Stewart Copeland, in the Best New Age Album category.
• In 2015, he won a Grammy at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards for his album “Winds of Samsara” in the Best New Age Album category.
• Ricky is only the fourth Indian and the youngest person from India to win a Grammy Award.

Grammy Award 2023 :

The 65th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony is a music award ceremony currently taking place on 5th February 2023 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. South African comedian Trevor Noah, who hosted the 63rd and 64th ceremony, hosted for the third time.