General Awareness

ART AND CULTURE - December 2025

Dec 2025

Jan 12, 2026

Ni Fest 10th edition concludes in Thrissur; rural art camp ends

The 10th edition of Ni Fest, a national art camp and rural art festival, concluded near Wadakkancherry in Thrissur district. Curated by painter Sujith S.N., the camp featured 20 artists, including T. Venkanna and K. Muraleedharan. The event, running from January 7, showcased visual arts, theatre and literature, integrating traditional and contemporary forms. It aimed to nurture rural artistry and connect artists with broader cultural ecosystems in Kerala. The festival’s conclusion marked another milestone in Kerala’s vibrant arts calendar, highlighting the state’s role as a hub for regional and national art initiatives.

Ni Fest concludes in Thrissur after 10th edition.
Curated by Sujith S.N.; 20 participating artists.
Festival features visual arts, theatre and literature.
Aims to support rural art and connect with broader culture networks.
Kerala’s ongoing role as a national arts hub is highlighted.

PM Modi lauds Shrimad Vijayaratna Sunder Surishwarji Maharaj on 500th book release

Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the release of Shrimad Vijayaratna Sunder Surishwarji Maharaj’s 500th book, praising the spiritual leader for spreading knowledge through writing and life example. Modi described the 500 works as a vast ocean of thoughts and insights, offering simple and spiritual guidance to humanity. He reiterated the nine resolutions from the Navkar Mahamantra Day, including water conservation and local sourcing, as the nation seeks growth in harmony with tradition. The video message underscored the Prime Minister’s emphasis on culture, learning and values in public life.

PM Modi praises Shrimad Vijayaratna Sunder Surishwarji Maharaj on 500th book release.
Describes the collection as a vast ocean of thoughts and insights.
Books offered as simple, spiritual guidance for humanity.
Reinforces nine Navkar Mahamantra Day resolutions, including water conservation.
Shows Modi’s emphasis on culture and values in governance.

Jan 11, 2026

Somnath Swabhiman Parv Marks Millennium of Temple's Resilience

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah had appealed to citizens across the country to participate in the "Somnath Swabhiman Parv," which was observed at Somnath in Gujarat from January 8 to January 11. The four-day event commemorated 1,000 years since the first recorded attack on the Somnath temple and seeks to highlight the continuity and resilience of Sanatan culture.

Jan 08, 2026

Kerala Assembly International Book Festival inaugurated by CM Vijayan

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the fourth Kerala Assembly International Book Festival on January 7, with the event continuing through January 13 at the Legislative Assembly complex. The festival promises book launches, literary discussions, a students’ corner, a model assembly and cultural programmes including Theyyam, Kalaripayattu and Sangeetha Sandhya. Assembly Speaker Shamseer presided over the inauguration as Vijayan presented the Assembly Award to noted Malayalam writer N. S. Madhavan. The festival aims to celebrate reading, promote literary culture and engage students and families through a week of literary and cultural activities.

Fourth Kerala Assembly International Book Festival inaugurated.
Dates: January 7–13, 2026 at the Legislative Assembly complex.
Activities: book launches, discussions, student corner, model assembly.
Cultural programmes include Theyyam, Kalaripayattu, Sangeetha Sandhya.
Vijayan awards N. S. Madhavan for literary contributions.

Jan 07, 2026

SARAS Mela 2026 in Guntur

Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications, Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, while briefing the media about SARAS Mela 2026, said that Guntur is hosting the prestigious national-level SARAS Mela from January 6 to 18, 2026, marking a significant milestone for the region. He added that the event will bring together Women's Self-Help Groups (SHGs) from across all States of India to showcase their craftsmanship and entrepreneurial spirit.
He stated that the Mela serves as a vital platform for DWCRA (Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas) women of Andhra Pradesh. He said this is a unique opportunity for local Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to understand national and global standards, explore new product possibilities, and learn modern marketing strategies to scale their businesses.
The prestigious The 13-day National-level SARAS-2026 exhibition will be inaugurated on 8th January 2026 in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, by the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh in the presence of the Union Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar.

Dharmendra Pradhan releases 55 literary works in classical Indian languages

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan released 55 literary works in classical Indian languages in New Delhi. The collection includes 41 publications from CIIL centres of excellence and 13 volumes plus a Tirukkural Sign Language series from CICT. Works span Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, Odia, and Tamil, with an emphasis on linguistic heritage and education. The publications form part of a broader effort to promote classical languages and cultural literacy in national education, and to connect scholarly resources with classroom teaching. The initiative highlights India's emphasis on language diversity and cultural preservation in public education.

Dharmendra Pradhan releases 55 classical-language works
41 CIIL publications; 13 more plus Tirukkural Sign Language series
Languages include Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, Odia, Tamil
Aims to promote linguistic heritage in education
Supports cultural literacy and access to classical knowledge

Jan 06, 2026

Badalta Bharat Mera Anubhav challenges announced by I&B Ministry

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry, in collaboration with the MyGov platform, announced winners of four creative challenges under the Badalta Bharat Mera Anubhav campaign. The program invites citizens to share experiences of India’s transformation over the last 11 years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aligning with the Viksit Bharat@2047 vision. Prize winners include Indrajeet Subodh Mashankar (Instagram Reel), Manthan Rohit (YouTube Shorts), Sushovan Manna (Short AV – Story of New India), and Krishna Gupta (Blog Writing). The campaign demonstrates citizen participation in nation-building narratives and supports broader cultural engagement with governance.

Badalta Bharat Mera Anubhav winners announced by I&B Ministry.
Campaign highlights 11 years of transformation under PM Modi.
Winners: Mashankar, Rohit, Manna, Gupta across formats.
Aligned with Viksit Bharat@2047 framework.
Encourages citizen storytelling and creative expression.
Strengthens public engagement with governance narratives.

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