Art and Culture Current Affairs

Indian Art and Culture for Competitive Affairs

PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the Indian Art, Architecture & Design Biennale (IAADB) 2023 at Red Fort

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Indian Art, Architecture & Design Biennale (IAADB) 2023 at Red Fort. IAADB is scheduled from 9th to 15th December 2023 at Red Fort, New Delhi.

  • The inauguration included the opening of the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat Centre for Design’ and the student Biennale called Samunnati.
  • A Commemorative Stamp was launched during the program.
  • The event is part of a series of initiatives, including the International Museum Expo in May 2023 and the Festival of Libraries in August 2023.
  • IAADB aims to facilitate a comprehensive conversation among various stakeholders in the cultural space, such as artists, architects, designers, photographers, collectors, and art professionals.

Q: Where was the Indian Art, Architecture & Design Biennale (IAADB) 2023 is being held?

a. Rashtrapati Bhavan
b. Red Fort
c. India Gate
d. Humayun’s Tomb

Ans : b. Red Fort

Garba of Gujarat inscribed in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of Humanity by UNESCO

  • Garba of Gujarat added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
  • Decision made at UNESCO convention in Botswana on December 6, 2023.
  • Garba is the 15th ICH element from India.
  • Inclusion in UNESCO list showcases Indian culture to the world.

Q: Which cultural item from Gujarat was included in the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of Humanity in December 2023?

a) Bhangra
b) Garba
c) Kathak kali
d) Kuchipudi

Ans : b) Garba

Hornbill Festival began at Naga Heritage Village ‘Kisama’ from December 1 to 10, 2023

The 24th Edition of the Hornbill Festival began at Naga Heritage Village ‘Kisama’ on December 1, 2023. The festival spans 10 days and serves as a platform for various tribes of Nagaland to showcase their culture, traditions, and contemporary aspects.

  • The United States of America, Germany, and Colombia are the Country Partners for this edition.
  • Assam is the Partner State for the festival in 2023.
  • Honored Guests at the inaugural function included Ambassador Eric Garcetti (USA), British High Commissioner Alex Ellis, Ambassador Victor Echeverri Jaramillo (Colombia), and German Consul General Barbara Voss.
  • The Hornbill Festival 2023 was officially declared open with the sounding of a Traditional Gong by Governor La Ganesan and Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio.
  • The opening ceremony featured a cultural extravaganza showcasing the Naga way of life, including ‘Call of the Hornbill’ presented by Task Force for Music and Arts (TAFMA).

Q: The 24th Edition of the Hornbill Festival began at which Naga Heritage Village?

a) Kisama Village
b) Nagaland Heritage Hub
c) Tribal Heritage Town
d) Naga Cultural Center

Ans : a) Kisama Village

Q: Hornbill Festival is celebrated in which state?

a) Manipur
b) Arunachal Pradesh
c) Nagaland
d) Mizoram

Ans : c) Nagaland

54th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) concluded in Goa on November 28, 2023

  1. Conclusion of the 54th International Film Festival of India (IFFI):
    • The 54th IFFI concluded in Goa on November 28, 2023.
    • The closing ceremony took place at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Bambolim.
  2. Closing Film and Honors:
    • The American film ‘Featherweight,’ directed by Robert Kolodny, served as the closing film.
    • Hollywood actor and producer Michael Douglas received the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award.
    • Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant presented the award to Michael Douglas.
  3. Awards at the Closing Ceremony:
    • ‘Endless Borders,’ directed by Abbas Amini, received the Best Film or Golden Peacock Award.
    • Stephan Komandarev won the Best Director award for ‘Blaga’s Lessons.’
    • Pouria Rahimi Sam and Melanie Thiery received the Best Actor (Male) and Best Actor (Female) awards, respectively.
    • The Kannada film ‘Kantara,’ directed by Rishab Shetty, received the Special Jury or Silver Peacock Award.
    • The Best Debut Feature Film of a Director award went to Turkish Director Reger Azad Kaya for ‘When The Seedlings Grow.’
    • Anthony Chen’s film ‘Drift’ won the ICFT UNESCO Gandhi Medal.
    • The Best Web Series (OTT) Award was given to Panchayat Season 2.

MCQs

Q: Who received the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award at the 54th International Film Festival of India (IFFI)?
a. Robert Kolodny
b. Pramod Sawant
c. Michael Douglas
d. Anurag Singh Thakur

Ans : c. Michael Douglas

Q: Which film received the Best Film or Golden Peacock Award at the closing ceremony?
a. Drift
b. Endless Borders
c. Blaga’s Lessons
d. Party of Fools

Ans : b. Endless Borders

Bali Jatra, Asia’s largest open-air annual trade fair inaugurated on banks of Mahanadi River in Cuttack

Bali Jatra, Asia’s largest open-air annual trade fair, began on November 27, 2023, on the banks of the Mahanadi River in Cuttack, Odisha.

  1. The festival, commemorating Odisha’s ancient maritime legacy, commenced on Kartika Purnima and will continue until December 4.
  2. Cultural troupes from Odisha and other states will showcase performances, including Odissi, Chhau, Bihu, Mahari, Gotipua, Sambalpuri, Santali folk dances, during the evenings.
  3. Approximately two thousand stalls will display a variety of handicrafts, household goods, and foods on the fairgrounds.

Q: What unique feature distinguishes Bali Jatra, the annual trade fair hosted on the banks of the Mahanadi River in Cuttack, Odisha?

  • A) Largest open-air annual trade fair in Asia
  • B) Oldest in trade fair India
  • C) Most technologically advanced
  • D) Exclusively for international trade

Ans :A) Largest open-air annual trade fair in Asia

PM Modi participates in Sant Mirabai Janmotsav at Mathura

Prime Minister Narendra Modi participates in Sant Mirabai Janmotsav at Mathura on November 23, 2023.

  • Meera Bai is a renowned Hindu mystic poetess from the 16th century, known for her deep devotion to Lord Krishna.
  • Born into a royal family in Kudki (now Pali district, Rajasthan) in 1498 CE, Meera Bai is the only child of Veer Kumari and Ratan Singh.
  • She spent her childhood in Merta city, Nagpur district, Rajasthan, with the childhood name Yashodha.
  • Meera Bai’s devotion, poetry, and love for Lord Krishna are central to her identity and legacy.

MCQs

Where was Meera Bai born?
a. Merta City
b. Kudki
c. Nagpur
d.Mathura

Ans : b. Kudki

In which century did Meera Bai live?
a. 14th
b. 15th
c. 16th
d. 17th

Ans : c. 16th

What was Meera Bai’s childhood name?
a. Yashodha
b. Radha
c. Meera
d. Krishna

Ans : a. Yashodha

54th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) commenced on November 20, 2023, in Goa

The 54th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) commenced on November 20, 2023, in Goa, with the opening ceremony held at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Bambolim.

  1. Anurag Singh Thakur, the Union Information and Broadcasting Minister, inaugurated the 9-day event, and the opening movie was the British film ‘Catching Dust.’
  2. The 54th IFFI received 2926 entries from 105 countries, marking a significant increase in international submissions compared to the previous year.
  3. The festival will feature 13 World Premieres, 18 International Premieres, 62 Asia Premieres, and 89 India Premieres during its duration.
  4. In a new development, IFFI has introduced OTT Awards to acknowledge excellence in OTT series and films, receiving 32 entries in 10 languages from 15 OTT platforms for the Best Web Series (OTT) Award.
  5. Veteran actor Madhuri Dixit received the Special Recognition to Bhartiya Cinema award for her significant contributions to the Indian film industry.
  6. The Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Hollywood actor and producer Michael Douglas at the closing ceremony on the 28th of the month.
  7. The star-studded opening ceremony featured scintillating performances by film stars Madhuri Dixit, Shahid Kapoor, Shriya Sharan, Nushratt Bharucha, Pankaj Tripathi, Shantanu Moitra, Shreya Ghosal, and Sukhwinder Singh.

MCQs

What new feature was introduced at the 54th IFFI to acknowledge excellence in OTT series and films?

A. International Film Awards
B. Web Series Festival
C. OTT Recognition
D. OTT Awards

Ans : D. OTT Awards

Which award did Madhuri Dixit receive at the opening ceremony for her contributions to the Indian film industry?

A. Best Actress Award
B. Lifetime Achievement Award
C. Special Recognition to Bhartiya Cinema
D. Best Director Award

Ans : C. Special Recognition to Bhartiya Cinema

Who will be honored with the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award at the closing ceremony of IFFI?

A. Shah Rukh Khan
B. Michael Douglas
C. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
D. Steven Spielberg

Ans : B. Michael Douglas

British film ‘Catching Dust’ will be the opening movie of 54th International Film Festival of India (IFFI)

The 54th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) is scheduled to take place in Goa from November 20 to 28, 2023.

  1. The British film ‘Catching Dust’ will be the opening movie of IFFI 2023, while the American film ‘The Featherweight’ will serve as the closing film. The Turkish film ‘About Dry Grasses’ will be featured as the midfest movie.
  2. Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Anurag Thakur, announced these details during the curtain raiser press conference in New Delhi.
  3. Hollywood actor Michael Douglas will be honored with the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award at IFFI 2023.
  4. The festival will feature more than 270 films, including 198 in the International Section with 13 world premiers, and 25 feature films and 20 non-feature films from India in the Indian Panorama section.
  5. The opening film in the feature section is ‘Aattam,’ a Malayalam film, and in the non-feature section, it is ‘Andro Dreams’ from Manipur.

MCQs on 54th International Film Festival of India (IFFI)

Q.: Which film will be the opening movie at IFFI 2023?

a. ‘The Featherweight’
b. ‘About Dry Grasses’
c. ‘Aattam’
d. ‘Catching Dust’

ans : d. ‘Catching Dust’

Q.: Who will be honored with the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award at IFFI this year?

a. Anurag Thakur
b. Michael Douglas
c. The director of ‘Catching Dust’
d. The director of ‘The Featherweight’

Ans : b. Michael Douglas

Nandini Das wins 2023 British Academy Book Prize for Global Cultural Understanding

Nandini Das, an India-born author, has won the 2023 British Academy Book Prize for Global Cultural Understanding.

  1. She won the prize for her debut book, ‘Courting India: England, Mughal India and the Origins of Empire.’
  2. Nandini Das is a Professor of English literature at the University of Oxford.
  3. Critics describe her book as the “true origin story of Britain and India” and it focuses on England’s first diplomatic mission to the Mughal courts.
  4. The book offers a new perspective on the origins of the British Empire, particularly through the story of the first English ambassador to India, Sir Thomas Roe, in the early 17th century.

MCQs

Q.: Who is the winner of the 2023 British Academy Book Prize for Global Cultural Understanding?

a) Sir Thomas Roe
b) Nandini Das
c) A British diplomat
d) An anonymous author

Ans : b) Nandini Das

Q.: What is the title of Nandini Das’s award-winning book?

a) England’s First Diplomatic Mission
b) The Origins of the British Empire
c) Courting India: England, Mughal India and the Origins of Empire
d) The True Origin Story of Britain

Ans : c) Courting India: England, Mughal India and the Origins of Empire

Kozhikode and Gwalior added to UNESCO creative cities list

Kozhikode in Kerala and Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh have been recognized by UNESCO and included in the prestigious Creative Cities list. UNESCO announced this recognition on October 31, which is celebrated as World Cities Day.

  1. Kozhikode is acknowledged for its contributions in the field of literature, while Gwalior is recognized for its contributions to music.
  2. Kozhikode is known for hosting the annual Kerala Literature Festival and various other book festivals.
  3. Gwalior boasts a rich musical heritage encompassing classical Hindustani music, folk music, and devotional music. It is also home to prestigious music institutes and popular music festivals.
  4. The UNESCO Creative Cities Network now includes 350 cities across the globe, representing seven creative fields: Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts, and Music.

MCQs

Q.: Which city in India is added to UNESCO creative cities list for its contributions in the field of literature?

A) Gwalior
B) Mumbai
C) Kozhikode
D) Kolkata

Ans : C) Kozhikode

Q.: For what reason is Gwalior recognized by UNESCO and included in the prestigious Creative Cities list?

A) Literature
B) Film
C) Music
D) Gastronomy

Ans : C) Music

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