General Awareness

ART AND CULTURE - December 2025

Dec 2025

Mar 09, 2026

Guinness World Record: 9,111 Lezim performers unite in Maharashtra

On International Women’s Day, 9,111 participants performed Lezim, a traditional Maharashtra folk exercise, in a synchronized mass display in Thane district near Mumbai. The event took place at the Shri Sant Savlaram Sports Complex ground in Dombivli, bringing together women and schoolgirls from Dombivli and Kalyan talukas to set a new Guinness World Record. The attempt broke the previous record of 7,338 Lezim performers held by Sangli district. Organisers include Dombivlikar Ek Sanskruti Parivar and the Kalyan Taluka Physical Education Committee, under the guidance of BJP state president Ravindra Chavan. The gathering highlighted women’s empowerment and community involvement.

9,111 participants performed Lezim together
Event held on International Women’s Day in Thane district
New Guinness World Record, surpassing 7,338 from Sangli
Organised by Dombivlikar Ek Sanskruti Parivar and Kalyan Taluka committee
Participants included women and schoolgirls from local talukas

Mar 06, 2026

President Murmu to inaugurate Darjeeling Hill Festival

President Droupadi Murmu will visit West Bengal on 6–7 March 2026. On 6 March, she will inaugurate the Darjeeling Hill Festival at Lok Bhavan, Darjeeling, marking the 150th anniversary of the national anthem and unveiling an exhibition ‘Root & Rhythms’. The festival showcases tribal heritage and North Bengal culture, with collaborations among cultural institutions and museums. The event highlights Darjeeling’s artistic traditions and regional crafts, drawing visitors from across the state. Murmu’s visit underscores the emphasis on hill region culture, heritage preservation, and ongoing cultural diplomacy.

President Murmu inaugurates Darjeeling Hill Festival.
Scheduled for 6 March 2026 at Lok Bhavan, Darjeeling.
Festival marks 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram exhibition.
Celebrates tribal heritage and regional arts.

Mar 05, 2026

First Gandhi Bust in Montana – March 4, 2026

The first Mahatma Gandhi bust in Montana was unveiled on 4 March 2026 at the Mike Mansfield Center, University of Montana, Missoula. The unveiling ceremony featured prominent officials from Montana and India, reflecting sustained cultural diplomacy between the two nations. Presented by the Government of India, the bust underscores India's soft power and the importance of educational and cultural exchanges. The event coincided with broader India-US cultural dialogues and appreciation of Gandhi’s legacy in promoting peace and non-violence across continents.

Gandhi bust unveiled in Montana on 4 March 2026
Mike Mansfield Center, University of Montana venue
Ceremony marked by Montana and Indian officials
Bust presented by Government of India
Cultural diplomacy and Gandhi’s legacy highlighted

Oxford to Return Tirumankai Alvar Bronze to Tamil Nadu

An Indian cultural artefact, a 16th-century bronze statue of Saint Tirumankai Alvar, will be returned to India by the Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford. The 57.5-centimetre sculpture was originally from a Tamil Nadu temple and has been in Oxford's collection since 1967. Research indicates the piece was removed from a southern Indian temple, part of broader repatriation efforts worldwide. Tirumankai Alvar is one of the twelve Alvar saints revered in Vaishnavism, whose hymns helped shape the Bhakti movement in South India. The return illustrates increasing international cooperation to address artefacts taken during colonial periods. The statue is expected to be installed in a suitable temple or museum setting in Tamil Nadu.

16th-century Tirumankai Alvar bronze statue to be returned to India
57.5 cm tall; originally from a Tamil Nadu temple; in Oxford since 1967
Research links the artefact to a southern Indian temple
Alvar saints revered in Vaishnavism; tied to Bhakti movement
Part of ongoing global repatriation of artefacts
Potential placement in Tamil Nadu temple or museum

Montana Unveils Mahatma Gandhi Bust at Mike Mansfield Center

Montana state unveiled its first Mahatma Gandhi bust at the Mike Mansfield Center, University of Montana, Missoula, on 4 March 2026. The ceremony was led by Montana Governor Greg Gianforte and India’s Consul General in Seattle, Prakash Gupta. The bust, a gift from the Government of India, highlights cultural diplomacy between India and the United States. Attendees discussed Gandhi’s philosophy of peace and non-violence as a global legacy. The event reflects India’s soft power through culture and education and reinforces people-to-people ties with the United States.

Gandhi bust unveiled at Mike Mansfield Center, Missoula (4 March 2026)
Governor Gianforte and India’s Consul General Prakash Gupta attended
Gift from the Government of India; symbol of cultural diplomacy
Gandhi’s peace and non-violence philosophy highlighted
Strengthens India-US cultural and educational ties

Mar 02, 2026

12th‑century Yadava pillar fragments found near Wardha settle cultural significance

Archaeologists reported fragments of a 12th century Mandir style pillar near the Vena River in Hinganghat, Wardha district, Maharashtra, about 70 kilometres from Nagpur. Identified by idol researcher Panchsheel Thul during a study of riverbank mandir sites, the pieces show intricate carvings linked to the Seuna or Yadava dynasty. Researchers suggest the pillar could be part of a sabhamandap or a front of a garbhagriha, with another fragment possibly the pedestal of a main pillar. The find underscores Wardha’s medieval temple architecture and could prompt further excavations to map a larger temple complex in the area.

Pillar fragments found near the Vena River, Wardha
Date-claimed attribution to 12th century Yadava dynasty
Intricate Mandir style carvings observed
Possible sabhamandap or garbhagriha pedestal remains
Indicates a potentially larger temple complex nearby

Jammu University to host Goonj 2026 youth festival; chancellor to inaugurate

The University of Jammu announced Goonj 2026, its flagship multi-genre youth festival to be held over two days. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who serves as Chancellor, will inaugurate the event. Launched in 2024, Goonj aims to promote holistic student development, leadership and teamwork beyond academics. The festival celebrates creativity across arts, music, theatre and sports and fosters collaboration among university communities to showcase talent and institutional spirit. Organisers emphasise youth engagement, mentorship and the opportunity for students to explore talents beyond the curriculum.

Goonj 2026 announced by University of Jammu
Two-day youth festival; inauguration by LG Manoj Sinha
Launched in 2024; focuses on holistic development
Themes across arts, music, theatre, sports
Promotes collaboration and leadership among students

Zapotec Owl Tomb uncovered in Oaxaca reveals 1,400-year-old burial practices

Archaeologists in southern Mexico uncovered a remarkably preserved tomb dating to around AD 600 in San Pablo Huitzo, Oaxaca. The tomb belongs to the Zapotec civilisation, also called the ‘Cloud People,’ and offers unprecedented insights into Indigenous funerary rites and social organisation from nearly 1,400 years ago. Discovered in 2025 during investigations into looting, the burial site complements existing knowledge of Zapotec culture and its regional development in the Oaxaca Valley. The find highlights the long history of complex societies in Mesoamerica and their enduring heritage within modern Indigenous communities.

Discovery: Zapotec tomb in San Pablo Huitzo, Oaxaca
Dating: around AD 600, ~1,400 years old
Civilisation: Zapotec (Cloud People)
Found during 2025 looting investigations
Significance: insight into funerary practices and social structure

Feb 26, 2026

North East Spring Festival 2026 begins in Dimapur

Dimapur in Nagaland hosts the three‑day North East Spring Festival 2026, also known as the Festival of the North East, at the NEZCC Complex. The event, organized by the North East Zone Cultural Centre in collaboration with SCZCC Nagpur, showcases folk and tribal arts from across the region. It runs parallel with the Madh‑Dakshini Festival, promoting cultural exchange and national integration. The festival features performances by traditional artistes, crafts showcases, and culinary displays, highlighting the vibrant heritage of India’s northeast. (Source: NEZCC announcements)

Three‑day North East Spring Festival starts in Dimapur
Showcases regional folk and tribal arts
Festival runs with Madh‑Dakshini Festival 2026
Aims to strengthen cultural exchange and integration

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