Art and Culture (Part-I)

11. Consider the following pairs: [I.A.S. (Pre) 2009]

Gatka, a traditional martial art - Kerala
Madhubani, a traditional painting - Bihar
Singhey Khababs Sindhu Darshan festival - Jammu and Kashmir

Which of the above pair (s) is/are correctly matched?

(a) 1 and 3
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 2
(d) 2 only

Correct Answer: (d) 2 only

Solution:Gatka is a martial art of Punjab in which wooden sticks, lathi are used to simulate swords in sparring matches. Madhubani painting or Mithila painting is a unique style of painting, practised in the Mithila region of Nepal and Indian States of Bihar. Singhe-Khababs Sindhu Darshan festival is a Festival of India held every year in the month of June. It is held at Leh, in Ladakh U.T. (which was part of J&K at the time the question was asked).

12. ‘Madhubani’ painting is related to which State? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2013]

(a) Uttar Pradesh
(b) Bihar
(c) Kerala
(d) Tamil Nadu

Correct Answer: (b) Bihar

Solution:Gatka is a martial art of Punjab in which wooden sticks, lathi are used to simulate swords in sparring matches. Madhubani painting or Mithila painting is a unique style of painting, practised in the Mithila region of Nepal and Indian States of Bihar. Singhe-Khababs Sindhu Darshan festival is a Festival of India held every year in the month of June. It is held at Leh, in Ladakh U.T. (which was part of J&K at the time the question was asked).

13. In the context of the cultural history of India, a pose in dance and dramatics called Tribhanga has been a favourite of Indian artists from ancient times till today. Which one of the following statements best describes this pose? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2013]

(a) One leg is bent and the body is slightly but oppositely curved at waist and neck
(b) Facial expressions, hand gestures and make-up are combined to symbolize certain epic or historical characters
(c) Movements of body, face and hands are used to express oneself or to tell a story
(d) A little smile, slightly curved waist and certain hand gestures are emphasized to express the feelings of love or eroticism

Correct Answer: (a) One leg is bent and the body is slightly but oppositely curved at waist and neck

Solution:Tribhanga (tri-bent pose) is a standing body position or stance used in the traditional Indian sculpture, art and Indian classical dance form. Tribhanga is literally meaning three breaks, consisting of three bends in the body; at the neck, waist and knee which gives it a gentle ‘S’ shape. Hence option (a) is the correct answer.

14. Given below are two statements, one labelled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R): [U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) (Re-Exam) 2016]

Assertion (A) : For education and culture a Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT) was set up in 1979.
Reason (R) : The objective of CCRT was to link education with culture.

Choose the correct answer from the codes given below:
Codes:

(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true and R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true

Correct Answer: (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A

Solution:Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT) is a premier institution working in the field of linking education with culture. It was established in 1979, by Smt. Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay & Dr. Kapila Vatsayana. It functions as an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. CCRT’s commitment lies to holistic education, encompassing the cognitive, emotional and spiritual development of children. Hence it is clear that both A & R are correct and R is correct explanation of A.

15. Which of the following places Kumbh Mela is not held? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1992]

(a) Nashik
(b) Haridwar
(c) Prayag
(d) Varanasi

Correct Answer: (d) Varanasi

Solution:Kumbh Mela is a mass Hindu pilgrimage of faith in which Hindus gather to take a dip in a holy river. It is the world’s largest religious gathering. It is held every third year at one of the four places by rotation: Haridwar, Prayagraj, Nashik and Ujjain. Thus the Kumbh Mela is held at each of these four places every twelfth years. However, U.P. government has changed the name of Kumbh mela (every 12 year) to Mahakumbh and Ardh Kumbh mela (every 6 year) to Kumbh (at Prayagraj).

16. After how many years ‘Maha Kumbh’ is held? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2013]

(a) 6 years
(b) 9 years
(c) 12 years
(d) 6 years

Correct Answer: (a) 6 years

Solution:Kumbh Mela is also known as Purna Kumbh takes place every twelfth year at following four places: Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik. However, U.P. government has changed the name of Kumbh mela (every 12 year) to Mahakumbh and Ardh Kumbh mela (every 6 year) to Kumbh (at Prayagraj).

17. In which place Kumbh Mela is held every twelfth years? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1995]

(a) Prayag - Haridwar - Ujjain - Nashik
(b) Chitrakoot - Ujjain - Prayag - Haridwar
(c) Rameshwaram - Puri - Badrinath - Dwarika
(d) Ujjain - Puri - Prayag - Haridwar

Correct Answer: (a) Prayag - Haridwar - Ujjain - Nashik

Solution:Kumbh Mela is also known as Purna Kumbh takes place every twelfth year at following four places: Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik. However, U.P. government has changed the name of Kumbh mela (every 12 year) to Mahakumbh and Ardh Kumbh mela (every 6 year) to Kumbh (at Prayagraj).

18. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer from the codes given below the lists: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2004 U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2002]

List-I		List-II
A. Bihu		1. Assam
B. Onam		2. Kerala
C. Pongal		3. Tamil Nadu
D. Vaisakhi		4. Punjab

Code :

	A	B	C	D
(a)	1	2	3	4
(b)	2	3	1	4
(c)	3	4	1	2
(d)	1	3	4	2

(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

Correct Answer: (a)

Solution:The correctly matched festivals with their related states is as follows –
Bihu - Assam (Celebrated thrice in a year)
Onam - Kerala (Celebrated during harvesting of crop)
Pongal - Tamil Nadu (Celebrated in the month of January during harvesting of crop)
Baisakhi - Punjab

19. Onam is the festival of which State? [U.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 2002]

(a) Karnataka
(b) Assam
(c) Kerala
(d) Tamil Nadu

Correct Answer: (c) Kerala