Current Affairs Questions

Explanation :

• Tulu belongs to the southern branch of the family of Dravidian languages. It descends directly from Proto-Southern Dravidian, which in turn descends directly from Proto-Dravidian, the hypothesized mother language from which all Dravidian languages descend.
• Tulu is a text book example of linguistic discrimination. Its speakers are concentrated in two coastal districts of Karnataka and in Kasaragod district of Kerala.
• Kasaragod district is called ‘Sapta Bhasha Samgama Bhumi (the confluence of seven languages)’, and Tulu is among the seven.
• The cities of Mangaluru, Udupi and Kasaragod are the epicentres of Tulu culture.
• Apart from Tulu Nadu, a significant emigrant population of Tulu speaking people is found in Maharashtra, Bengaluru, Chennai, the English-speaking world, and the Gulf countries.
• The oldest available inscriptions in Tulu are from the period between 14th to 15th Century AD.These inscriptions are in the Tigalari script and are found in areas in and around Barkur which was the capital of Tulu Nadu during the Vijayanagar period.

Explanation :

• The structure, known as the ‘Taj of the Deccan’ because of its striking resemblance to the Taj Mahal, was commissioned by Emperor Aurangzeb in 1660 in the memory of his first wife Dilras Banu Begum (posthumously known as Rabia-ud-Daurani).
• Also called the Tomb of the Lady, Bibi Ka Maqbara was designed by Ataullah, the son of Ahmad Lahauri, the architect of the Taj Mahal which explains its appearance heavily based on the prime marvel.

Explanation :

• Yakshagana is a traditional Indian theatre form, developed in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Shimoga and western parts of Chikmagalur districts, in the state of Karnataka and in Kasaragod district in Kerala.
• It combines dance, music, dialogue, costume, make-up, and stage techniques with a unique style and form.
• It is traditionally presented from dusk to dawn.It typically begins in the twilight hours, with an initial beating of the drums of several fixed compositions, called abbara or peetike.
• Yakshagana evolved as a dance form during the Bhakti Movement. Narahari Tirtha, a disciple of Madhvacharya, is said to be the first person to introduce Yakshagana in Udupi. Its stories are drawn from Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavata and other Hindu epics.

Types

• TenkutittuStyle: It is prevalent in Dakshina Kannada. Tenkutittu is noted for its incredible dance steps; its high flying dance moves; and its extravagant rakshasas (demons).
• Badagutittu Style: It is prevalent in Uttara Kannada District and places more emphasis on facial expressions, matugarike (dialogues), and dances appropriate for the character depicted in the episode.

Explanation :

• The Sahitya Akademi was formally inaugurated by the Government of India on 12 March 1954. It was registered as a society on 7^th January 1956, under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
• It gives 24 awards annually to literary works in the languages it has recognized and an equal number of awards to literary translations from and into the languages of India, both after a year long process of scrutiny, discussion and selection.
• Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, is the central institution for literary dialogue, publication and promotion in the country and the only institution that undertakes literary activities in 24 Indian languages, including English.

Explanation :

• The Sattriya dance form was introduced in the 15th century A.D by the great Vaishnava saint and reformer of Assam, Mahapurusha Sankaradeva as a powerful medium for propagation of the Vaishnava faith.
• Sattriya dance tradition is governed by strictly laid down principles in respect of hasta mudras, footworks, aharyas, music etc.
• This tradition, has two distinctly separate streams - the Bhaona-related repertoire starting from the Gayan-Bhayanar Nach to the Kharmanar Nach, secondly the dance numbers which are independent, such as Chali, Rajagharia Chali, Jhumura, Nadu Bhangi etc.
• One-act plays of Sattriya are called Ankiya Nat, which combine the aesthetic and the religious through a ballad, dance and drama. The plays are usually performed in the dance community halls (namghar) of monastery temples (sattras). The themes played relate to Krishna and Radha, sometimes other Vishnu avatars such as Rama and Sita.
• The dance is accompanied by musical compositions called borgeets, which are based on classical ragas.
• The instruments that accompany a traditional performance are khols (drums), taals (cymbals) and the flute.
• On 15 November 2000, the Sangeet Natak Akademi finally gave Sattriya Nritya its due recognition as one of the classical dance forms of India.

Explanation :

• In order to encourage inter-tribal interaction and to promote cultural heritage of Nagaland, the Government of Nagaland organizes the Hornbill Festival every year in the first week of December.
• The Festival is named after the Indian Hornbill, the large and colourful forest bird which is displayed in folklore in most of the state’s tribes.
• The Festival is held at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama which is about 12 km from Kohima.
• The aim of the festival is to revive and protect the rich culture of Nagaland and display its extravaganza and traditions.

Significance

• The Hornbill Festival has contributed significantly to enhancing the state's tourism brand. Tourism promoters believe that the Hornbill Festival in Nagaland allows tourists to have an insight into the different tribes of Nagaland.
• It fosters understanding of the rich cultural heritage of the state, its resourceful architecture and its ethnic cuisine.

Great Hornbill

• The great hornbill (Bucerosbicornis) also known as the great Indian hornbill or great pied hornbill, is one of the larger members of the hornbill family.
• It is found in India, southwestern China, Bangladesh, western Thailand, mainland Southeast Asia, including Laos, the Malaysia Peninsula and Sumatra.
• Conservation Status
  • -IUCN Status: Vulnerable
  • -It is also listed in Appendix I of CITES

Ecological Significance

• Due to its large gape, Horbill is able to transport and disperse the seeds of various important trees like trees knema and Myristica, which tend to be too large for other organisms.

Explanation :

• Tanbo Art is a rice paddy art developed by the farmers of Inakadate village in Japan to beautify their paddy fields.
• It is done on rice paddies (tanbo) as the canvases on which to create giant paintings with different-colored rice plants. Seedlings that will grow to have leaves and florets of various colors (such as green, purple, and yellow) are planted in accordance with a plan to have a vivid picture appear as the plants grow. The colors of the art pieces change with the seasons.
• There are no dyes to create the different colors and hues.
• Often, hundreds of villagers work together to plant the rice by hand and create these massive works of art. While planting, different areas of the rice paddy are roped off, so people know which type of rice to put where- kind of like painting by numbers.
• Rice is planted in the spring, and then harvested in the fall. When it gets close to harvest, the color changes to a beautiful hue called koganeiro, which is often translated as golden or honey-colored.

Explanation :

• The Maha bodhi Temple Complex in Bodh Gaya is located in the central part of the state of Bihar, in the northeastern part of India. It is the part of the great Ganges plains.
• The complex is one of the four holy sites related to the life of the Lord Buddha.
• The complex is also known by the name BodhimandaVihara that means 'Position of Awakening'.
• The first temple was constructed by King Ashoka in the 3rd century B.C. while the present temple complex is estimated to be erected somewhere between the 6th or 5th century B.C.
• The present Maha bodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya comprises the 50 m high grand Temple, the Vajrasana, sacred Bodhi Tree and other six sacred sites of Buddha's enlightenment, surrounded by numerous ancient Votive stupas.
• It was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2002.

Explanation :

• Recently, Brahmaputra Pushkaram - a 12-day mega river festival was celebrated in the state of Assam starting from November 5 to November 16, 2019.
• It is a festival of rivers and it pertains to the 12 important rivers in India, namely Ganga, Yamuna, Narmada, Chambal, Kaveri, Beas, Tapti, Godavari, Chenab, Krishna and Saraswati.
• This festival occurs once every 12 years for each river. Earlier, Brahmaputra Pushkaram was held in 2007.
  It is the second biggest river festival celebrated in Assam after Namami Brahmaputra.
• It is believed that Pushkarudu, also known as Pushkar God, who is powerful enough to make any river holy, will travel with Jupiter during this time, as Jupiter travels from one zodiac sign to another.

Explanation :

• SurangaBawadi was built by Adil Shah-I of Adilshahi dynasty of Bijapur in the 16th century to supply water to Vijaypura in Karnataka.
• It is an integral part of the ancient Karez System of supplying water through subterranean tunnels.

Karez System

• Karez system was built by Bahmani kings in 15th Century by the Bahmani kings in Bidar, Gulbarg and Bijapur in Karnataka and also in Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh.
• Also known as Qanat, it is a water-harnessing technology that originated in Iran/Persia.
• Karez technology basically taps into the ground tunnel to the settlement, ending in surface canal and/or pools in the village for various uses.

World Monuments Watch

• The World Monuments Watch is a global program launched in 1995 on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of World Monuments Fund.
• It aims to identify imperiled cultural heritage sites and direct financial and technical support for their preservation.