General Knowledge Indian Culture: Questions and Answers-3
101. The sacred thread ceremony for Hindu girls, before they leave their paternal home for marriage, is called:
Kanyadaan: Kanyadaan is a significant ritual in Hindu weddings where the father gives away his daughter to the groom.
102. Which ancient Indian treatise on music and performing arts is considered a foundational text for Indian classical dance and drama?
Natya Shastra: The Natya Shastra, attributed to Bharata Muni, is a Sanskrit text on the performing arts, encompassing theatre, dance, and music.
103. The vibrant desert festival showcasing Rajasthani folk culture, including turban tying competitions and camel races, is held in:
Jaisalmer: The Jaisalmer Desert Festival is an annual event in February, showcasing the rich folk culture of Rajasthan amidst the Thar Desert.
104. What is the traditional name for the large, decorated canopy under which Hindu wedding rituals are performed?
Mandap / Mandapa: A Mandap is a temporary structure erected for the purpose of a Hindu wedding.
105. The popular South Indian dish Dosa is typically made from a batter of rice and what other main ingredient?
Urad Dal (Black Gram): Dosa batter is primarily made from fermented rice and urad dal.
106. Which Indian state is renowned for its Kolam or Rangoli designs made with rice flour at doorsteps?
Tamil Nadu: Kolam is a traditional art form of Tamil Nadu, where intricate patterns are drawn on the ground using rice flour.
107. The ancient Indian philosophical concept of 'Nirvana' in Buddhism and Jainism refers to:
The state of perfect peace and freedom from suffering: Nirvana is the ultimate goal in Buddhism and Jainism, representing liberation from suffering, desire, and the cycle of rebirth.
108. Which Indian festival celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters, where sisters tie a thread around their brothers' wrists?
Raksha Bandhan: Raksha Bandhan is a Hindu festival celebrating the love and duty between brothers and sisters.
109. The famous Gatka martial art form originated in which region of India?
Punjab: Gatka is a traditional martial art with roots in the historical Punjab region, primarily practiced by Sikhs.
110. The architectural marvel of the Meenakshi Amman Temple is located in which South Indian city?
Madurai: The Meenakshi Amman Temple is a historic Hindu temple located on the southern bank of the Vaigai River in the temple city of Madurai, Tamil Nadu.
111. What is the name of the traditional Indian percussion instrument, a pair of drums, often used in Hindustani classical music?
Tabla: The tabla is a membranophone percussion instrument, consisting of a pair of drums, used in Hindustani classical music and folk music.
112. The ancient Indian script from which most modern Indian scripts are derived is:
Brahmi: Brahmi is the ancestor of most of the scripts in India, including Devanagari, Tamil, Telugu, and others.
113. Which Indian state is known for its unique Pattachitra scroll painting art form?
Odisha: Pattachitra is a traditional cloth-based scroll painting unique to Odisha.
114. The concept of 'Atithi Devo Bhava' in Indian culture emphasizes:
Treating guests as equivalent to God: This Sanskrit phrase, meaning "The guest is God," reflects the high regard for hospitality in Indian culture.
115. What is the traditional name for the Hindu ritual of worshipping ancestors?
Shraddha: Shraddha is a Hindu ritual that a person performs to pay homage to their ancestors.
116. The classical dance form Kuchipudi originated in which state?
Andhra Pradesh: Kuchipudi is one of the ten major Indian classical dance forms, originating from a village named Kuchipudi in Andhra Pradesh.
117. Which Indian festival celebrates the victory of Lord Rama over the demon king Ravana?
Dussehra (Vijayadashami): Dussehra marks the end of Navratri and symbolizes the triumph of good over evil, specifically Lord Rama's victory over Ravana.
118. The Lotus Temple, known for its unique flower-like shape, is a House of Worship for which faith? Baháʼà Faith:
The Lotus Temple in Delhi is a Baháʼà House of Worship, open to all faiths.
119. Which ancient Indian text is considered the primary sacred scripture of Sikhism?
Guru Granth Sahib: The Guru Granth Sahib is the central religious scripture of Sikhism, regarded by Sikhs as the final, sovereign, and eternal living Guru.
120. The traditional Indian garment for men, a loose, unstitched cloth draped around the waist and legs, typically worn in South India, is called:
Veshti / Lungi: Veshti (in Tamil) or Lungi (more broadly) are common terms for this traditional attire.
121. Which Indian festival marks the beginning of the Malayalam calendar and is celebrated as the New Year in Kerala?
Vishu: Vishu is the traditional New Year festival in Kerala, celebrated in mid-April.
122. The Bihu festival, known for its lively folk dances, is primarily celebrated in which Northeastern state?
Assam: Bihu is a set of three important Assamese festivals in the Indian state of Assam—Rongali or Bohag Bihu, Kongali or Kati Bihu, and Bhogali or Magh Bihu.
123. Which Indian city is famous for its Hyderabadi Biryani and Charminar monument?
Hyderabad: Hyderabad is globally recognized for its iconic biryani and the historic Charminar.
124. The classical Indian musical concept of a melodic framework for improvisation is known as:
Raga: A Raga is a melodic framework used in Indian classical music, a set of melodic rules for compositions and improvisations.
125. What is the traditional name for the Hindu ritual of worship using a lamp with five wicks?
Aarti: Aarti is a Hindu religious ritual of worship, a part of Puja, in which light from wicks soaked in ghee or camphor is offered to one or more deities.
126. The Konark Sun Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is designed in the shape of a giant: Chariot: The Konark Sun Temple is famous for its architectural design, resembling a colossal chariot with twelve pairs of intricately carved wheels.
127. Which ancient Indian game is played with cowrie shells or dice, resembling backgammon? Pachisi: Pachisi is a cross and circle board game that originated in ancient India, considered an ancestor of games like Ludo.
128. The philosophical concept of 'Maya' in Hindu philosophy refers to: Illusion or the illusory nature of the material world:
Maya is a fundamental concept in Hindu philosophy, referring to the power that creates the illusion of the material world.
129. Which Indian state is famous for its intricate Kalamkari textile printing art?
Andhra Pradesh: Kalamkari is a type of hand-painted or block-printed cotton textile produced in Isfahan, Iran, and Andhra Pradesh, India.
130. The festival of Chhath Puja is dedicated to the worship of which deity?
Sun God (Surya) and Chhathi Maiya: Chhath Puja is an ancient Hindu festival dedicated to the Sun God (Surya) and his sister Chhathi Maiya, primarily celebrated in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Nepal.
131. The traditional Indian string instrument, often used as a drone accompaniment in classical music, is called:
Tanpura: The Tanpura is a long-necked plucked string instrument found in various forms in Indian music; it does not play melody but supports and sustains the tonic (drone).
132. Which historical monument in Delhi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a complex of tombs and gardens, a precursor to the Taj Mahal?
Humayun's Tomb: Humayun's Tomb is the tomb of the Mughal Emperor Humayun in Delhi, commissioned by his first wife Bega Begum, and is considered the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent.
133. What is the traditional name for the Hindu ceremony performed for the well-being of a pregnant woman and her child?
Seemantham / Godh Bharai (Baby Shower): Seemantham (South India) or Godh Bharai (North India) are ceremonies performed during pregnancy for the welfare of the mother and unborn child.
134. The classical dance form Sattriya originated in which Northeastern state?
Assam: Sattriya is a major Indian classical dance form with origins in the Vaishnavite monasteries (Sattras) of Assam.
135. The Indian classical music concept of a rhythmic cycle is known as:
Tala: Tala is the rhythmic pattern of a composition in Indian classical music.
136. What is the traditional Indian sweet made from grated carrots, milk, and sugar, often garnished with nuts?
Gajar ka Halwa: Gajar ka Halwa is a popular dessert made with carrots, ghee, milk, and sugar, originating from the Indian subcontinent.
137. The ancient city of Hampi was the capital of which major South Indian empire?
Vijayanagara Empire: Hampi served as the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire during the 14th to 16th centuries.
138. Which Indian state is famous for its vibrant Kite Festival (Uttarayan)?
Gujarat: Uttarayan, the International Kite Festival, is a major celebration in Gujarat.
139. The traditional Indian practice of touching the feet of elders to show respect is called:
Pranama / Charan Sparsh: Pranama (or Charan Sparsh) is a form of respectful greeting in Hindu culture, where one bows and touches the feet of elders or revered individuals.
140. The famous Golkonda Fort is located near which Indian city?
Hyderabad: Golkonda Fort is a fortified citadel and an early capital city of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, located near Hyderabad, Telangana.
141. Which Hindu deity is widely revered as the remover of obstacles and the god of wisdom and new beginnings?
Ganesha: Lord Ganesha is one of the most well-known and worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon.
142. The traditional Indian garment for women, a loose shirt-dress worn with trousers and a dupatta, is called:
Salwar Kameez: Salwar Kameez is a traditional outfit worn by women in the Indian subcontinent.
143. The concept of 'Ahimsa' (non-violence) is a fundamental tenet of which major Indian religions?
Jainism, Buddhism, and Hinduism: Ahimsa is a multi-faceted principle, an ethical virtue, that means 'not to injure' and 'compassion' to all living beings, deeply ingrained in these religions.
144. Which Indian state is renowned for its elaborate Thangka paintings, often depicting Buddhist deities and mandalas?
Sikkim / Ladakh / Himachal Pradesh (Himalayan regions): Thangka paintings are Buddhist scroll paintings on cotton or silk, common in Tibetan Buddhism and practiced in Indian Himalayan regions.
145. The folk dance Garba is synonymous with which Indian festival?
Navratri: Garba is a traditional Gujarati folk dance performed during the Navratri festival.
146. The ancient Indian philosophical concept of 'Samsara' refers to:
The cycle of birth, death, and rebirth: Samsara is the repeating cycle of birth, life, death, and rebirth (reincarnation) in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism.
147. Which Indian city is known as the 'Silicon Valley of India' but also has a rich cultural heritage, including the Nandi Temple?
Bengaluru (Bangalore): While a tech hub, Bengaluru also boasts historical sites like the Bull Temple (Nandi Temple) and Cubbon Park.
148. The famous Varanasi Ghats are located on the banks of which river?
Ganges River: The ghats in Varanasi are a series of steps leading down to the Ganges River, used for bathing and religious ceremonies.
149. What is the traditional name for the Hindu ritual of welcoming a new bride to her husband's home?
Griha Pravesh: Griha Pravesh is a Hindu ceremony performed to mark the entry of a person into their new house. In the context of marriage, it's the bride's first entry into her new home.
150. The ancient Indian game Mallakhamb involves performing acrobatic feats on what apparatus?
A wooden pole or rope: Mallakhamb is a traditional Indian sport where gymnasts perform aerial yoga postures and wrestling grips with a vertical wooden pole or a suspended rope.
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