Art and Culture: India’s Rich Cultural Legacy since 2000 BC”

Art and Culture: India’s Rich Cultural Legacy since 2000 BC. This encompasses all forms of Arts and Culture to include architect, paintings , Folk dance and music.

Art and Culture of India

The Art and Culture of India is a significant and vibrant component of the General Awareness section in various examinations. A thorough understanding of this subject can provide a competitive edge to aspirants.

I. Performing Arts:

Indian Classical Dances: Key Dances and Origin States

   Famous Exponents: Be aware of renowned artists associated with each classical dance form

          Basic Features/Themes: A rudimentary understanding of the distinct styles, costumes, and common themes (often mythological) can be beneficial.

           Mohiniyattam is performed by women in honor of Lord Vishnu in his Mohini           incarnation.

Folk Dances of India: India has a vast repertoire of folk dancesmin their Art and Culture.   

 Occasions: Some folk dances are associated with specific festivals, seasons, or social events (e.g., Bihu with the Bihu festival).

Indian Music:

          Classical Music Forms:

                     Hindustani Classical Music: Originating in North India. Knowledge of                     basic concepts like gharanas , and prominent vocalists and                                     instrumentalists. Dhrupad is an ancient form.

          Carnatic Music: Originating in South India. Familiarity with key terms and famous artists.

Musical Instruments and Maestros:

         Folk Music: regional folk music traditions

          Assam          -Zikir

          Bihar             –  Sohar

Theatre and Puppetry (Basic Awareness): While less frequently asked in detail, a basic understanding of traditional Indian theatre forms and puppetry styles across different states can be useful.

II. Visual Arts:

          Indian Architecture:

• Ancient Architecture:
  • Indus Valley Civilization (Harappan Art): Town planning, seals, pottery.
  • Mauryan Art: Palaces, pillars (e.g., Ashokan Pillars), stupas (e.g., Sanchi Stupa – its historical importance and architectural features).
  • Post-Mauryan Art: Rock-cut caves (e.g., Ajanta and Ellora Caves – their paintings and sculptures, religious themes like Buddhist Jataka tales), development of Stupa architecture.
  • Gupta Age: Beginning of temple architecture (Nagara and Dravida styles in nascent forms). Nalanda was a significant centre.
• Temple Architecture:
  • Nagara Style           North India
  • Dravida Style          South India – characterized by Vimana and Gopuram
  • Vesara Style           Hybrid style
  • Famous Temples and their Locations:

     Konark Sun Temple           Orissa

     Khajuraho Temples            Madhya Pradesh

     Brihadeeswarar Temple     Tamilnadu

     Meenakshi Temple            Tamilnadu.

• Indo-Islamic Architecture: Features like domes, minarets, arches. Important monuments from the Sultanate and Mughal periods (e.g., Qutub Minar, Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Fatehpur Sikri – Buland Darwaza built by Akbar).
• Modern Architecture: European influences.

• Indian Paintings:
  • Traditional Paintings:
    • Mural Paintings       Ajanta Caves.
    • Miniature Paintings  Mughal, Rajasthani, Pahari schools.
  • Folk Paintings:

     Madhubani                         Bihar

     Warli                                 Maharashtra

     Pattachitra                         Odisha

     Kalamkari                          Andhra Pradesh

     Thangka                            Himalayan region, Buddhist themes

• Famous Painters (Modern and Historical): Influential painters are

      Raja Ravi Varma,

      Amrita Sher-Gil,

      M.F. Husain,

     Jamini Roy,

     Tyeb Mehta.

• Indian Sculptures:
  • Harappan seals and sculptures.
  • Mauryan pillars and animal capitals.
  • Gandhara, Mathura, and Amaravati schools of sculpture.
  • Sculptures in temples and caves.

III. Festivals:

• National Festivals: Independence Day, Republic Day, Gandhi Jayanti.
• Religious Festivals: Diwali, Holi, Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha, Christmas, Guru Nanak Jayanti, Mahavir Jayanti, Buddha Purnima, Dussehra (Vijaya Dashami), Ganesh Chaturthi, Durga Puja, Chhath Puja, etc.
• Regional and State-Specific Festivals:

Harvest Festivals

Lohri                            Punjab

Pongal                         Tamil Nadu

Onam                           Kerala

Baisakhi                       Punjab

Bihu                             Assam

Makar Sankranti           various states

Hornbill Festival            Nagaland

Losar                           Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Ladakh – Tibetan New Year

Sangai Festival             Manipur

Konark Dance Festival  Odisha

Khajuraho Dance Festival Madhya Pradesh

Puri Rath Yatra             Odisha

Hemis Festival              Ladakh

Garia Puja                    Tripura

Vishu                           Kerala

• Significance: Understand the reason behind major festivals (e.g., harvest, religious significance, new year).

IV. Miscellaneous:

• UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India: Knowledge of important cultural and natural heritage sites.
• Languages and Literature: (Often a separate topic but closely related) Basic awareness of major languages and classical literary works (though detailed literary knowledge falls under “Indian Literature”). The Natya Shastra is a foundational text for classical performing arts.
• Handicrafts and Textiles: Famous Indian textiles

     Banarasi Silk,

     Kanjeevaram Silk,

     Pashmina

Handicrafts.

• GI (Geographical Indication) Tags: Awareness of products, especially art and craft forms, that have received GI tags.
• Cultural Institutions: Important national institutions promoting art and culture Sangeet Natak Akademi,

     Lalit Kala Akademi,

     Sahitya Akademi

Tribes in India: Basic knowledge of major tribes and their unique cultural practices (often reflected in their dances, festivals, and art).

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