General Awareness

ART AND CULTURE - October 2024

Oct 2024

Jan 21, 2026

Bodh Mahotsav to feature international cultural troupes

Bodh Mahotsav will feature cultural troupes from Japan, Laos, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Myanmar and Thailand, along with Bollywood playback singers, at Bodh Gaya’s main event. Inauguration will be led by Union MSME Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and Bihar officials at Kalachakra Ground near the Vishnupad temple. A Gyan Yatra from Dhungeshwari Hills to Sujata Stupa is planned the day before the main program, on 21 January, involving monks, foreign visitors, students and local stakeholders. The festival blends religious heritage with performing arts, drawing visitors and promoting Buddhist region-specific culture.

Bodh Mahotsav features international cultural troupes from six countries.
Inauguration by Union MSME Minister and Bihar officials.
Gyan Yatra precedes main events on 21 January.
Festival promotes Buddhist heritage and cultural exchange.

Lenscape Kerala photo exhibition opens in New Delhi

Lenscape Kerala, a photo exhibition, opens in New Delhi on 20 January 2026 at Travancore Palace Art Gallery. The display features 100 curated frames by 10 leading travel and media photographers, illustrating Kerala’s landscape, culture and memory. Tourism Minister P. A. Mohamed Riyas will inaugurate the exhibit, which travels to nine other Indian cities before closing in Surat on 31 March 2026. Curator Uma Nair and photographer Balan Madhavan oversee the project, which aims to showcase Kerala as a plural, experiential destination. The event underscores the state’s cultural diversity and invites audiences to explore its natural and architectural beauty.

Lenscape Kerala opens 20 January 2026 in New Delhi.
Features 100 photos by 10 photographers; travels to 9 more cities.
Inauguration by Tourism Minister P. A. Mohamed Riyas.
Curated by Uma Nair; photography by Balan Madhavan.

Jan 20, 2026

Valentino Garavani, renowned fashion designer, dies at 93

Valentino Garavani, the iconic Italian fashion designer widely known simply as Valentino, has died at 93. The foundation announced his death and noted his influence on haute couture and fashion branding, including the famed Valentino Red. Garavani’s career spanned decades of innovation, luxury fashion houses, and a global influence on style. His funeral was scheduled in Rome, with public tributes and a state of repose planned. The designer’s legacy remains significant in fashion history and contemporary couture discussions.

Valentino Garavani passes away at 93
Founder of the Valentino fashion house; iconic designer
Known for prestigious haute couture and Valentino Red
Funeral in Rome; public tributes planned
Legacy enduring in modern fashion

Jan 18, 2026

Jaipur Literature Festival 2026 opens; runs through January 19

The 19th Jaipur Literature Festival opened amid a lineup of writers, politicians and cultural figures. The festival runs through 19 January and features sessions with international and Indian authors, free‑flowing dialogue on diverse topics, and performances. Opening day included a keynote by prominent writer Banu Mushtaq, and addresses by Namita Gokhale and William Dalrymple. The festival highlights literature’s role in public debate and social change, with discussions spanning politics, culture, and history. Organisers emphasise accessible debates and inclusive participation as part of Jaipur’s cultural calendar.

Event: Jaipur Literature Festival 2026
Dates: through 19 January
Notable participants: Banu Mushtaq; Namita Gokhale; William Dalrymple
Theme: literature as public discourse
Location: Jaipur
Impact: platform for cross‑cultural dialogue

Jan 17, 2026

BLR Hubba Bengaluru festival opens with 350 events across city

BLR Hubba Bengaluru, a 10-day cultural festival, opens with more than 350 city-wide events from January 16 to 25. Organized by UnboxingBLR, the multi‑facet festival features sub-festivals such as Thindi Hubba (food) and Kala Hubba (visual arts), Makkala Hubba (children), and Rasthe Hubba (street culture). Venues include Freedom Park, Sabha, and National Gallery of Modern Art, with activities also in Sadashivanagar and Basavanagudi. The festival traces its roots to a 2023 book project and aims to showcase Bengaluru’s cultural vitality alongside its tech presence, inviting broad public participation and cross‑disciplinary collaboration.

BLR Hubba runs January 16–25; 350+ events across 30 venues.
Sub-festivals include Thindi Hubba, Kala Hubba, Makkala Hubba, Rasthe Hubba.
Venues span major cultural sites and city neighborhoods.
Festival evolved from a 2023 Bengaluru book project.
Event promotes cultural vitality and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Jan 14, 2026

4-day All India Major Port Cultural Meet concludes

The 25th All India Major Port Cultural Meet 2025–26 concluded after four days at Paradip Port. Organized by Paradip Port Authority and Major Ports Sports Control Board, around 200 artistes from nine ports participated. Team Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Authority emerged as overall champions, with Mumbai Port Authority as runners-up and Deendayal Port Authority along with Cochin Port Authority as second runners-up. The event showcased diverse cultural programs and reinforced cultural exchanges among major ports, underscoring the sector’s broader social and economic role beyond trade.

Four-day cultural meet ends at Paradip Port
Around 200 artistes from nine major ports participated
Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Authority won overall
Mumbai Port Authority was runner-up
Event highlights port culture and inter-port exchanges

Mandu Festival to return with tent city and extended activities

The Mandu Festival is returning with a tent city and extended tourist activities after a three-year hiatus. The state tourism department, in coordination with the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, plans to set up a tent city around Mandu and Tamia to broaden visitor experiences. The Mandu festival is expected to begin late January or February, with ongoing activities planned for nearly three months. Organisers said the tent city approach would enhance the festival’s international appeal and provide a longer, immersive experience for domestic and foreign visitors.

Mandu Festival returns with tent city concept
Extended tourist activities planned for Mandu and Tamia
Tent city to operate for nearly three months
Festival timing expected from late January or February
Aims to broaden international and domestic appeal

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