General Awareness

ART AND CULTURE - August 2025

Aug 2025

Jan 24, 2026

BHU 111th foundation day celebrations in Varanasi

BHU’s 111th foundation day will be celebrated on 23 January 2026 at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. The programme includes prayers, campus processions, science exhibitions, student performances, and interactions with scholars and alumni. Speakers will emphasise the university’s academic excellence and its role in regional development. The anniversary aligns with Republic Day celebrations and seeks to inspire students with the heritage of BHU founders and national builders. Organisers will announce future projects and collaborations to advance research and education. The event will bring participation from students, faculty, and guests from across the country. Source: Times of India.

BHU foundation day on 23 January 2026 in Varanasi.
Ceremonies include prayers, processions and cultural programs.
Science exhibitions and alumni interactions planned.
Focus on BHU’s academic excellence and regional impact.

Navagraha Symphony to premiere in Chennai on 23 January 2026

Navagraha Symphony, a joint project by Indian and international composers, will have its Chennai premiere on 23 January 2026 as part of the Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival. The production blends Western symphonic technique with Indian musical motifs, performed by a full orchestra, choir, soloists, and dancers. The performance is designed to showcase cultural fusion and attract audiences from across the country and abroad. Organisers say the program reflects a contemporary expression of Indian cosmology and artistry, offering a novel experience while promoting cross-cultural dialogue. It is expected to boost tourism and cultural exchange during Republic Day season. Source: Times of India.

Chennai premiere on 23 January 2026 as part of LGMF.
Musical fusion of Western and Indian traditions.
Features full orchestra, choir and dancers.
Aims to promote cross-cultural dialogue and tourism.

Jan 22, 2026

233-year-old Valmiki Ramayana manuscript gifted to Ayodhya museum

Ayodhya, 22 January 2026 — In a landmark cultural handover, a 233-year-old Valmiki Ramayana manuscript with Tattvadipikatika commentary was gifted to the Ram Katha Museum in Ayodhya, Culture Ministry officials stated. The manuscript, dated Vikrama Samvat 1849 (1792 CE), comprises five principal cantos and reflects the epic’s textual tradition. Authored by Valmiki and annotated by Maheshvara Tirtha, it was previously loaned to Rashtrapati Bhavan and is now permanently housed at the Antarrashtriya Ram Katha Sangrahalaya in Ayodhya. The gift highlights India’s efforts to preserve ancient Sanskrit manuscripts and elevate Ayodhya’s role as a cultural hub of the Ramayana tradition.

Manuscript: Valmikiramayanam with Tattvadipikatika commentary
Date: Vikrama Samvat 1849 (1792 CE)
Contents: Five principal kanaas (Balakanda, Aranyakanda, Kiskindhakanda, Sundarakanda, Yuddhakanda)
Previous custody: Loaned to Rashtrapati Bhavan; now in Ayodhya museum
Significance: Preservation of Sanskrit epic tradition

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

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