Current Affairs Questions

Explanation :

Context: In Assam, the campaigns of political parties often include going to different Sattras to seek blessings or to glorify the teachings of Sankardeva.

• Sattras are monastic institutions in Assam. They were created as part of the 16th century Neo-Vaishnavite reformist movement. Movements started by the Vaishnavite saint-reformer Srimanta Sankaradeva(1449-1596).
• They were established to spread the Sankardeva’s unique “worship through art” approach. They are doing it presently with music (borgeet), dance (sattriya), and theatre (bhauna).
• Each Satra has a naamghar (worship hall) as its nucleus and is headed by an influential “Satradhikar”.
• Monks known as bhakats are inducted into Sattras at a young age. They may or may not be celibate depending on the kind of Sattra they are inducted into.
• There are about 900 Sattras across Assam, but the main centers are Bordowa (Nagaon), Majuli and Barpeta. These institutions are of paramount importance and lie at the heart of Assamese culture.

Sankardeva’s Philosophy

• Sankardeva propagated a form of Bhakti called eka-sharana-naam-dhrama, and espoused a society based on equality and fraternity, free from caste differences, orthodox Brahmanical rituals and sacrifices.
• His teaching focused on prayer and chanting (naam) instead of idol worship.
• His dharma was based on the four components of deva (god), naam (prayers), bhakats (devotees), and guru (teacher).

Explanation :

Context: Recently, a shadow leather puppet in Kerala’s famous temple art Tholpavakkoothu has been animated by a robot.

• Tholpavakoothu or shadow puppetry is a temple art form which is prevalent in the Bhagavathy temples (mother Goddess) in Palakkad district and nearby regions in Kerala.
• Also known as Nizhalkkoothu and Olakkoothu, it is a ritual art performed during the annual festivals in the Kaali temples of Palakkad district.
• The theme of the play is based on the Kamba Ramayana (the Tamil version of the epic).
• The art is performed on a special stage called koothumadam in the temple courtyard.
• It is performed using the mythological figures along with the use of fire and lighting of lamps behind the screen.
• The chief puppeteer is known as ‘Pulavan’.
• Musical Instruments Used: Ezhupara, Chenda and Maddalam etc.

Explanation :

To mark the occasion of 151 years of postcards in India, Maharashtra Circle of India Post has released picture postcards on Sawantwadi Toys on October 1, 2020.

The postcard is inspired by Prime Miniinsp'sspeech about the country's ability to become a "toy hub”.

About Samantwadi Toys

• Sawantwadi toys refer to hand made works of art made of wood in Sawantwadi a town in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra. Most of these toys are made in the village of Kolgaon in Sawantwaditaluka.
• These toys are made from the wood of the Indian Coral tree (Erythrinavariegata).
• Craftsmen who make these toys belong to the Chittari community who came to Sawantwadi from Karwar and Goa.

Indian Coral Tree

• Also known as tiger's claw, it is a species of Erythrina native to the tropical and subtropical regions of eastern Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, northern Australia, and the islands of the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean east to Fiji.
• It is often used in agroforestry systems. It can be used for fodder as its foliage has a good nutritive value for most livestock.

Explanation :

On 24th September, 2020, renowned Malayalam poet Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri was conferred the 55th edition of the Jnanpith Award.

About Award

• Jnanpith Award is an Indian literary award presented annually by the Bharatiya Jnanpith to an author for their "outstanding contribution towards literature".
• Instituted in 1961, the award is bestowed only on Indian writers writing in Indian languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India and English, with no posthumous conferral.
• Until 1982 it was presented for a specific work; thereafter, it was given for a writer’s overall contribution to literature. Since then, the award has typically been given every year to one author, although in some years it has been jointly offered to two.
• The first recipient of the award was the Malayalam writer G. SankaraKurup who received the award in 1965 for his collection of poems, Odakkuzhal (The Bamboo Flute), published in 1950.

Explanation :

The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, which is wreaking havoc the world over, has hit the Kashmir Valley’s centuries-old culinary tradition of Trami.

About TramiTardition

• It is the Kashmir Valley’s centuries-old culinary tradition.
• It’s origin can be traced during the Sultan period, especially during eighth Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin, between 1418 and 1470.
• It involves eating together from one plate during weddings.
• In trami four guests join in simultaneously to have their portion of food from around a circular 2X2 feet decorated copper plate.Itsymbolised brotherhood and sharing.
• But due to COVID-19 the Kashmiris have learnt to adapt to the situation and have replaced the Trami tradition with individual copper utensils in the weddings.

Explanation :

• Dhrupad is the most ancient style of Hindustani classical music that has survived until today in its original form. The Dhrupad tradition is a major tradition of Indian culture.
• The word ‘Dhrupad’ is derived from DHRUVA the steadfast evening star that moves through our galaxy and ‘Pada’ meaning poetry.
• It is a form of devotional music that traces its origin to the ancient text of Samaveda. The Samavedawas chanted with the help of melody and rhythm called Samgana.
• Gradually this developed into other vocal style called ‘Chhanda’ and ‘Prabandha’ with introduction of verse and meter. The fusion of these two elements led to the emergence of Dhrupad.
• The nature of Dhrupad music is spiritual, seeking not to entertain, but to induce feelings of peace and contemplation in the listener.
• Performance of Dhrupad is done in two parts viz. the Alap and Bandish.
• In the Alap, the singer uses syllables from Sanskrit Mantra which add texture to the notes. The Raga is slowly and methodically developed in a meditative mode.

Explanation :

• Rogan painting is an art of cloth printing practiced in the Kutch District of Gujarat.
• It is the technique of painting on fabric, crafted from a thick brightly coloured paint like substance made with castor seed oil.
• Rogan Art, an ancient textile art, with its origins in Persia, came to Kutch around 300 years ago.
• Traditionally, the craft was used to beautify bridal clothing of the regional tribes.
• Beautiful borders and floral patterns on ghagras, odhanis and bed spreads were painstakingly painted.
• The intricate motifs – geometric flowers, peacocks, the tree of life, etc. – are drawn from the history and folk culture of the Kutch region.

Explanation :

• Channapatna toys are a particular form of wooden toys that are manufactured in the town of Channapatna, Ramanagara district of Karnataka.
• As a result of the popularity of these toys, Channapatna is known as Gombegala Ooru (toy-town) of Karnataka.
• The origin of these toys can be traced to the reign of Tipu Sultan who invited artisans from Persia to train the local artisans in the making of wooden toys.
• The major raw material used for the manufacturing of toys is the wood of the Wrightiatinctoria tree,colloquially called Aalemara (ivory-wood).
• However, the craft has diversified over time; in addition to the traditional ivory-wood, other woods—including rubber, sycamore, cedar, pine and teak—are now used as well.
• This traditional craft is protected as a geographical indication (GI)(2006) under the World Trade Organization, administered by the Government of Karnataka

Explanation :

• The Indian Council for Cultural Relations(ICCR) is an autonomous body under the administrative control of the Ministry of External Affairs.
• It was founded in 1950 by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad who was the first Education Minister of independent India.
• Its objectives are to actively participate in the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes pertaining to India’s external cultural relations; to foster and strengthen cultural relations and mutual understanding between India and other countries; to promote cultural exchanges with other countries and people, and to develop relations with nations.
• ICCR has also been assigned the responsibility of facilitating the celebration of the International Day of Yoga by Indian Missions/Posts abroad since 2015.
• It publishes six quarterly journals in five different languages:

Explanation :

• The Nagara style of temple architecture is found in northern India.
• In the Nagara style, the temple is generally constructed on a upraised platform called jagati.
• Mandapas are present in front of the Garbhagriha. These are adorned with the Shikhara, the tallest one being above the Garbhagriha.
• Unlike the temples in south India, Nagara style doesn’t usually have elaborate boundary walls or gateways (South Indian temples often sport magnificent Gopurams).
• Generally, there is no water tank in the temple premises and the pradakshinapatha is covered.
• NagaraSchool is further subdivided into different schools based on region like Odisha, Khajuraho, Solanki, etc.
• Three subtypes of Nagara temple depending upon the shape of Shikhara- Rekha Prasad / Latina, Phamsana and Valabhi.
• Some of the best examples of the north Indian style (Nagara style) of temple architecture are the Khajuraho Group of temples, Sun temple (Konark), Sun temple at Modhera, Gujarat and Ossian temple, Gujarat.