CULTURE (May 2017 – February 2018) Table of Contents 1. DANCES & MUSIC ___________________ 3 6.1. Kumbh Mela ______________________ 16 1.1. Kathak ____________________________ 3 6.2. List of World Heritage in Danger______ 17 1.2. Odissi ____________________________ 3 6.3. World Heritage City ________________ 17 1.3. Other Classical Dances _______________ 3 6.4. UNESCO Asia Pacific Award of Merit __ 18 1.4. Sangrai Dance ______________________ 4 6.5. Creative Cities Network _____________ 18 1.5. Thumri____________________________ 5 6.6. UNESCO’s Endangered List __________ 19 2. PAINTINGS & OTHER ART FORMS ______ 6 6.7. Conference on Tourism and Culture ___ 19 2.1. Modern Painting ___________________ 6 7. RELIGION AND CULTURAL FESTIVALS __ 20 2.2. Puppetry __________________________ 6 7.1. Mahamastakabhisheka _____________ 20 2.3. Theatre Olympics ___________________ 7 7.2. Kandhei Jatra _____________________ 20 3. SCULPTURE AND ARCHITECTURE _______ 8 7.3. Thakurani Jatra Festival _____________ 21 3.1. Buddhist Monasteries _______________ 8 7.4. Medaram’s Jatara _________________ 21 3.2. Hoysala Temple architecture _________ 8 7.5. Cauvery Maha Pushkaram___________ 21 3.3. Ananda Temple ____________________ 9 7.6. Wari Warkari _____________________ 21 3.4. Ajanta caves _______________________ 9 7.7. Losar Festival _____________________ 22 3.5. Post-Independence Architecture _____ 10 7.8. Nabakalebar Festival _______________ 22 4. LANGUAGES AND LITERATURE _______ 11 7.9. Jallikattu _________________________ 22 4.1. Prakrit ___________________________ 11 7.10. Ambubachi Festival _______________ 23 4.2. Konkani __________________________ 11 7.11. Chapchar Kut ____________________ 23 4.3. Nobel Prize in Literature: Kazuo Ishiguro11 7.12. North East Calling Festival __________ 23 4.4. Padmaavat _______________________ 11 7.13. Hornbill Festival __________________ 23 4.5. Sahitya Akademi Awards____________ 12 7.14. Aranmula Regatta ________________ 24 4.6. International Conference on Demetrios 7.15. Saddula Bathukamma _____________ 24 Galanos _____________________________ 13 7.16. Ramakrishna Movement ___________ 24 5. TRIBE _____________________________ 14 8. HISTORICAL EVENTS ________________ 25 5.1. Bonda Tribe ______________________ 14 8.1. History of Indian Navy ______________ 25 5.2. Toda Tribe ________________________ 14 8.2. Paika Rebellion ____________________ 25 5.3. Soliga Tribe _______________________ 14 8.3. Champaran Satyagrah ______________ 25 5.4. Reang Tribe_______________________ 14 8.4. Sabarmati Ashram _________________ 26 5.5. Siddi Tribe ________________________ 14 8.5. Bengali Newspapers________________ 26 5.6. Jarawa Tribe ______________________ 15 8.6. Quit India Movement ______________ 26 5.7. Koya Tribe ________________________ 15 8.7. Battle of Koregaon _________________ 27 6. INITIATIVES OF UNESCO _____________ 16 9. PERSONALITIES ____________________ 28 1 DELHI | JAIPUR | PUNE | HYDERABAD 8468022022 9.1. Basaveshwara ____________________ 28 10.3. Other government initiatives _______ 34 10.3.1. Swachh Iconic Place _______________ 34 9.2. Saint Tyagraja _____________________ 28 10.3.2. National Zonal Cultural Centres ______ 35 9.3. Raja Ram Mohan Roy ______________ 28 10.3.3. Promotion of Traditional Sports______ 35 10.3.4. Aadi Mahotsav ___________________ 36 9.4. Sri Ramanujacharya ________________ 28 10.3.5. Deen Dayal Sparsh Yojana __________ 36 9.5. Baba Farid ________________________ 29 11. MISCELLANEOUS __________________ 37 9.6. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel ____________ 30 11.1. Moncoes do Reino ________________ 37 9.7. Birsa Munda ______________________ 31 11.2. INTACH to document heritage sites along 9.8. Anasuya Sarabhai__________________ 31 Mahanadi River _______________________ 37 10. GOVERNMENT SCHEMES ___________ 33 11.3. Indira Gandhi Prize________________ 37 10.1. Schemes of Ministry of Tourism _____ 33 11.4. ICOMOS General Assembly _________ 37 10.1.1. Swadesh Darshan _________________ 33 11.5. Prasar Bharti _____________________ 38 10.1.2. Special Tourism Zone ______________ 33 10.1.3. Paryatan Parv ____________________ 33 11.6. Sabrimala _______________________ 38 10.1.4. Adopt A Heritage Scheme ___________ 33 11.7. International Dialogue on Civilisation 38 10.1.5. Iconic Tourist Sites Project __________ 33 10.1.6. PRASAD Scheme __________________ 34 11.8. GI Tag __________________________ 39 10.2. Schemes of Ministry of Culture______ 34 11.9. Miscellaneous titbits ______________ 39 10.2.1. National Mission on Cultural Mapping and Roadmap ______________________________ 34 Copyright © by Vision IAS All rights are reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of Vision IAS. 2 8468022022 DELHI | JAIPUR | PUNE | HYDERABAD 1. DANCES & MUSIC • Natyashastra of Bharat Muni describes three About Odissi aspects of dance: o Natya highlights the dramatic element • Odissi is the classical dance form of Odisha. o Nritya is essentially expressional, • It symbolises the element of water. performed specifically to convey the • It was originally performed by maharis who meaning of a theme or idea. were temple dancers. Later group of boys o Nritta on the other hand, is pure dance named Gotipua were trained in this art. They where body movements do not express danced in temples and for public any mood (bhava), nor do they convey entertainment. any meaning. • Facial expressions, hand gestures and body movements in Odissi are used to suggest a 1.1. KATHAK certain feeling, an emotion or one of the nine rasas. It is similar to Bharatnatyam in Why in news? the use of mudras. th • Google celebrated the 97 birth anniversary • The dancers create intricate geometrical of legendary Kathak dancer Sitara Devi with shapes and patterns with her body. Hence, it a doodle. is known as “mobile sculpture” About Sitara Devi • The techniques of movement are built • She was described as Nṛitya Samrajni, around the two basic postures of the Chowk meaning “Empress of Dance” by and the Tribhanga. Rabindranath Tagore o The chowk is a position imitating a • She was conferred with prestigious honours square - a very masculine stance with the like Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Padma weight of the body equally balanced. Shree, Kalidas Samman and the India Lifetime The tribhanga is a very feminine stance Achievement Award. where the body is deflected at the neck, torso and the knees About Kathak • Musical instruments used in Odissi are • It is a traditional dance form of Uttar Pradesh pakhwaj, sitar, manjira and flute. which traces its origin back to the Ras Leela of Brajbhoomi. It derives its name from 1.3. OTHER CLASSICAL DANCES “kathika” meaning story tellers. • The dance form is characterized by intricate Dance Key features footworks and is generally accompanied with form dhrupad music. Other music such as Taranas, Kathakali • classical dance of Kerela Thumris and Ghazals were also introduced • blend of dance, music and acting during the Mughal period. (“Katha” meaning story and “Kali” meaning drama) • It is the only Indian classical dance having a • Dramatizes stories and most recitals synthesis of Hindu and Muslim traditions. are a representation of conflict • Kathak is also known for the development of between good and evil. different gharanas (Lucknow, Jaipur, Raigarh, • Symbolizes the element of sky or Banaras) as it is the only classical dance based ether. on Hindustani style of music. • Codified hastamudras and facial • Other famous proponents: Birju Maharaj, expressions Lacchu Maharaj, Sitara Devi, Damayanti Joshi • Elaborate makeup with different etc. colors along with a headgear • Associated instruments: Chenda, 1.2. ODISSI Maddalam, Chengila, Ilathalam, Idakka and Shankhu. Why in news? Bharatna • Oldest classical dance from Tamil tyam Nadu. • The Odisha government will establish an • Also known as ekaharya, where one Odissi museum in Bhubaneswar. dancer takes on many roles in a single 3 DELHI | JAIPUR | PUNE | HYDERABAD 8468022022 performance. • The dance is performed on Carnatic • Associated instruments: mridangam, music where singer is accompanied veena or violin, flute and cymbal. by musical instruments like Manipuri • It has its roots in the ancient festival mridangam, violin, flute and of Lai Haraoba. The dance gained tambura. prominence under the advent of Vaishanvism. 1.4. SANGRAI DANCE • Most popular forms of Manipuri dance: Ras, Sankirtana and Thang-Ta. Why in news? • The main theme revolves around • Traditional Sangrai dance of Tripura was Radha, Krishna and the gopis. presented in Republic Day parade for the first • Manipuri dance incorporates both time. the tandava and lasya. It is known for its lyrical and graceful movements. Details The facial expressions are natural and not exaggerated. • It is performed by the Mog tribal community • Associated instrument: Pung and of Tripura on the occasion of Sangrai festival Kartal. • The day is celebrated to welcome the new Sattriya • Introduced by the great Vaishnava year. saint in Assam, Sankaradeva for • The Mog are the Arakanese descendants and propagation of the Vaishnava faith. follow Buddhism • This tradition has been preserved by the Sattras i.e. Vaishnava maths or Related information monasteries. • Maharashtra won the best tableau award on • Governed by strictly laid down Republic Day Parade which was based on principles in respect Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s coronation who of hastamudras,