Art and Culture (Part-I)

Total Questions: 50

1. ‘Bihu’ is the folk dance of which of the following States? [Uttarakhand U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2007]

(a) Uttar Pradesh
(b) Assam
(c) West Bengal
(d) Maharashtra

Correct Answer: (b) Assam

Solution:The Bihu dance is a folk dance from the Indian State of Assam related to the Bihu festival. This joyous dance is performed by both young men and women and is characterized by brisk dance steps and rapid hand movement.

2. ‘Pongal’ is the festival of which State? [Uttarakhand U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2007]

(a) Andhra Pradesh
(b) Tamil Nadu
(c) Maharashtra
(d) Kerala

Correct Answer: (b) Tamil Nadu

Solution:Thai Pongal is a harvest festival of Tamil Nadu celebrated on Makar Sankranti by Tamil people at the end of the harvest season. Pongal is a festival of gratitude to the Sun god and the land for the good harvest. The festival is celebrated with the preparation of a dish called pongal, which is a sweet mixture of boiled rice. The festival also involves decorating homes with rice powder designs called kolams.

3. South Indian Festival of ‘Onam’ is associated with which of the following? [U.P.P.C.S (Pre) 2011]

(a) Ram’s Victory over Rawan
(b) Durga’s Killing of Mahishasur
(c) Shva Shakti
(d) Mahabali

Correct Answer: (d) Mahabali

Solution:Onam is the biggest and the most important festival of the State of Kerala. It is a harvest festival and is celebrated with joy and enthusiasm all over the State by people of all communities. According to a popular legend, the festival is celebrated to welcome King Mahabali whose spirit is said to visit Kerala at the time of Onam.

4. ‘Athapoo’ is associated with which of the following festivals? [U.P.P.C.S (Pre) 2011]

(a) Dol Yatra
(b) Onam
(c) Pongal
(d) Vishwakarma Puja

Correct Answer: (b) Onam

Solution:Pookalam, also called Athapoo, is an intricate floral mat laid in the front courtyard by maidens of the house during Onam festival. It is the biggest and the most important festival of the state of Kerala.
It is a harvest festival, celebrated in the beginning of the month of Chingam, the first month of the Malayalam Calendar (Kollavarsham). The Onam lasts from four to ten days. First day, Atham and tenth day, Thiruonam are the most important of all. According to a popular legend, the festival is celebrated to welcome King Mahabali, whose spirit is said to visit Kerala at the time of Onam. Another key feature is Vallamkali, the Snake Boat Race, held on the river Pampa. Kaikotti kali and Thumbi Thullal are two graceful dances performed by women on Onam.

5. ‘Tamasha’ is the famous folk form of musical theatre in: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2009 U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2006]

(a) Uttar Pradesh
(b) Punjab
(c) Maharashtra
(d) Bihar

Correct Answer: (c) Maharashtra

Solution:‘Tamasha’ is a traditional Marathi folk art form. It includes both singing and dancing forms. It is widely performed by theatre groups within the State of Maharashtra.

6. The book ‘Venushilpa’ by Chitracharya Upendra Maharathi relates to which of the following form of arts? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2019]

(a) Jewellery
(b) Painting
(c) Bamboo art
(d) Marble carving

Correct Answer: (c) Bamboo art

Solution:The book ‘Venushilpa’ by Chitracharya Upendra Maharathi relates to bamboo art. His some other major works include ‘Vaishali Ke Lichhivi,’ ‘Buddha Dharma Ka Abhuthan’ and ‘Indragupta’.

7. Name the holy place in which the main God is different from other three? [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2002]

(a) Amarnath
(b) Jagannath
(c) Kedarnath
(d) Vishwanath

Correct Answer: (b) Jagannath

Solution:Amarnath, Kedarnath and Vishwanath are related to Lord Shiva while the main deity of Jagannath Dham is Lord Krishna.

8. Four Mathas established by Adi Shankaracharya are : [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2010]

(a) Joshimath, Dwarka, Puri, Sringeri
(b) Sringeri, Dwarka, Joshimath, Prayag
(c) Dwarka, Joshimath, Prayag, Kanchi
(d) Puri, Sringeri, Dwarka, Varanasi

Correct Answer: (a) Joshimath, Dwarka, Puri, Sringeri

Solution:Adi Shankaracharya was one of the most notable philosophers as well as savant of India. He established four Peethas or Mathas in the four corners of India. The four Mathas established by him are- Jyotirmath or Joshimath in the north, Govardhan Math in Puri in the east, Dwarka sharda Peeth in Dwarka in the west and Sringeri Sharada Peetham in Sringeri in the south.

9. In India, many pilgrims travel to Srisailam, which is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, is located in- [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (J) (Pre) 2005]

(a) in Tapovan near Uttaranchal
(b) in Tamil Nadu near Arunachalam
(c) in Andhra Pradesh near Kurnool
(d) in Kerala near Kaladi

Correct Answer: (c) in Andhra Pradesh near Kurnool

Solution:

Srisaila Devasthanam, ‘Srisaila’ is in Kurnool district (Now-Nandyala district) of Andhra Pradesh. Lord Shiva is worshipped here as Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy along with goddess Parvati (Bhramaramba). It is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas (Mallikarjuna).

10. In which State is the Buddhist site Tabo Monastery located? [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2010]

(a) Arunachal Pradesh
(b) Himachal Pradesh
(c) Sikkim
(d) Uttarakhand

Correct Answer: (b) Himachal Pradesh

Solution:Tabo Monastery is located in the Tabo village of Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh. It was founded in 996 CE in the Tibetan year of the Fire Ape by the Tibetan Buddhist Rinchen Zangpo.

12 3 4 5 Next »