Subject: Art and Culture

Why in the News?

The annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath at Puri, Odisha, has begun today.

About Rath Yatra:

• About: Rath Yatra is an annual Hindu chariot festival celebrated in Puri, Odisha, in honour of Lord Jagannath, a form of Lord Vishnu.
• Legend: The festival commemorates the journey of Lord Jagannath, along with his siblings Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra, from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple, their birthplace.
• Occurrence: It is held on the second day of Ashadha Shukla Paksha (June–July), according to the Odia calendar.
• Procession: The deities are placed in three massive wooden chariots and pulled by devotees along the Grand Road (Bada Danda) for about 3 km.
• Significance: It is one of the four sacred pilgrimages (Char Dham) in Hinduism and allows non-Hindus to have darshan of the deities, unlike entry to the temple.

Key Events of the Rath Yatra:

• Pahandi Bije: The ceremonial procession where the deities are carried from the temple to the chariots.
• Chhera Panhara: A ritual where the Puri King sweeps the chariots with a golden broom, signifying humility and equality.
• Three Chariot Pulling: Devotees pull the chariots—Nandighosa (Jagannath), Taladhwaja (Balabhadra), and Darpadalan (Subhadra)—toward Gundicha Temple.
• Bahuda Yatra: The return journey to the Jagannath Temple, held on the 10th day of Ashadha Shukla Paksha.
• Poda Pitha Offering: The deities are offered traditional cakes at Mausimaa Temple during their return.
• Suna Besha: On return, the deities are adorned with gold ornaments on their chariots.
• Niladri Bije: Final ritual where the deities re-enter the sanctum; marks the end of the Rath Yatra.
• Rasagola Divas: Devotees offer Rasagola sweets to Goddess Lakshmi to appease her for not being included in the journey.

Why in the News?

Pilgrims have begun arriving in Guwahati, Assam, for the Ambubachi Mela, held annually at the Kamakhya Temple, one of the most sacred centres of Tantric Shaktism in India.

About Ambubachi Mela:

• Festival Overview: Ambubachi Mela is an annual Hindu fertility festival celebrated at the Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati, Assam.
• Timing and Season: It is held during the Assamese month of Ahaar (mid-June), coinciding with the monsoon season.
• Religious Significance: The festival marks the annual menstruation of Goddess Kamakhya symbolising fertility and life-giving power.
• Ritual Closure: During the festival, the sanctum sanctorum (innermost sacred chamber) of the temple is closed for three days to observe the goddess’s retreat.
• Ceremonial Reopening: The temple reopens ceremonially on the fourth day, when lakhs of devotees gather for darshan.
• Pilgrim Footfall: It is considered the largest religious gathering in Northeast India, with pilgrims arriving from across the country.
• Etymology: The name ‘Ambubachi’ literally means ‘water flowing’ (denoting menstruation and the flow of life).
• Spiritual Tradition: The practice is rooted in Tantric traditions (esoteric spiritual practices focusing on divine feminine energy).
• Cultural Observance: During this time, agricultural activities are halted to honour the goddess’s rest and align with nature’s rhythms.

Notable Features:

• No Idol Worship: No idol is worshipped; instead, the process of menstruation itself (biological and divine function) is venerated.
• Sacred Tokens: Devotees receive pieces of red cloth as sacred amulets.
• Spiritual Discipline: The mela includes ritual abstentions (temporary renunciation of daily activities), devotional silence, and spiritual observance (religious discipline).

Why in the News?

The 47th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library (PMML) Society, chaired by the Prime Minister, was recently held.

About the Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library (PMML)

• Overview: The PMML, earlier called the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML), is located at Teen Murti House, just south of Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.
• Origin: Built in 1929–30 as the residence of the Commander-in-Chief of British India, it was designed by Robert Tor Russel as part of Lutyens’ Delhi.
• Nehru’s Residence: After independence, it became the home of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru from 1948 to 1964 and was later dedicated to him following his death.
• Establishment: The PMML Society was founded on April 1, 1966, while the original museum was inaugurated on November 14, 1964, by President Dr S. Radhakrishnan to commemorate Nehru’s 75th birth anniversary.
• Renaming in 2023: The name was changed from NMML to PMML to reflect a broader mandate — documenting and honouring all Indian Prime Ministers, not just Nehru.
• Administrative Structure: PMML is an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Culture, with the Prime Minister of India as the head of the Society.
• Mission and Scope: The institution promotes advanced research in modern and contemporary Indian history, especially related to Prime Ministers, governance, and the evolution of Indian democracy.
• Key Institutions: PMML includes:
  • The Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya (Museum).
  • A world-class library.
  • The Centre for Contemporary Studies.
  • The Nehru Planetarium.

Why in the News?

The first Indian inscriptional reference to Halley’s Comet has been discovered on a copper plate dated 1456 CE, from the Vijayanagar Period.

About Halley’s Comet:

• Periodicity: It is one of the most famous periodic comets, visible from Earth approximately once every 76 years.
• Behind its name: It is named after the English astronomer Edmond Halley, who correctly predicted its return in 1758 using Newton’s laws of motion.
• Early observations: The comet has been recorded by observers around the world for over 2,000 years, including in Babylonian, Chinese, and mediaeval European sources.
• Latest appearance: Halley’s Comet last appeared in 1986 and is expected to return in 2061.
• Visibility: It is visible to the naked eye and appears as a bright streak of light with a glowing tail, caused by solar radiation vaporising its icy surface.
• Significance: Its 1456 CE appearance was especially bright and visible across Europe and Asia, and now, for the first time, it has been identified in an Indian epigraphical record.

Why in the News?

A one-day Samyoga event was organised today at the National Institute of Sowa-Rigpa (NISR), Leh, with the participation of experts from 10 states of India.

About Sowa-Rigpa:

• Overview: Sowa-Rigpa, also known as Traditional Tibetan Medicine or the Amchi system, is among the oldest continuously practised medical systems in the world.
• Origin: The term comes from the Bhoti language, meaning “knowledge of healing”, and dates back over 2,000 years.
• Historical Development: It was codified in the 8th century CE during King Trisong Detsen’s reign and further developed in the 12th century.
• Foundational Text: The Gyud-Zi (4 Tantras) integrates ideas from Ayurveda, Chinese medicine, Greek traditions, and Bon and Buddhist philosophy.
• Global Presence: Sowa-Rigpa is practiced in Tibet, Mongolia, Bhutan, Nepal, and parts of Russia and China.
• Indian Regions: In India, it is common in Ladakh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh (Lahaul & Spiti), Jammu & Kashmir, and Darjeeling.
• Core Beliefs: The system promotes disease prevention, longevity, and holistic mind-body well-being, viewing the body as a microcosm of nature in harmony with the environment.

Diagnosis and Treatment:

• Diagnostic Methods: Practitioners use pulse analysis, urine analysis, and detailed observation including case history.
• Therapies Used: Treatments include diet and lifestyle adjustments, herbal medicines, Kunyé massage, moxibustion, acupuncture, and spiritual healing.
• Ayurvedic Influence: About 75% of its theoretical base is derived from Ayurveda, especially the Ashtanga Hridaya.
• Common Herbs: Shared medicinal herbs include Ashwagandha, Triphala, and Guggulu.

Education and Recognition:

• Traditional Training: Knowledge was historically passed through oral traditions, via guru-shishya parampara or family lineages.
• Modern Institutions: The Central Council for Tibetan Medicine oversees education and practice standards.
• National Institute: The National Institute of Sowa-Rigpa (NISR) in Leh leads in education, research, and policy implementation.
• Government Recognition: Sowa-Rigpa has been officially recognised under AYUSH systems in India since 2010 and is promoted in multiple Himalayan states.

Why in the News?

Sri Lanka is celebrating Poson Poya festival which commemorates the arrival of Buddhism over 2,000 years ago.

About Poson Poya Festival:

• Overview: Poson Poya is the second most important Buddhist festival in Sri Lanka, following Vesak in religious significance.
• Date of Observance: It is celebrated on the full moon day of June, which corresponds to the seventh month of the Sinhalese calendar.
• Historical Commemoration: The festival marks the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka in 236 BCE, when Arahat Mahinda, son of Emperor Ashoka, met King Devanampiyatissa at Mihintale.
• Key Locations: Celebrations are held across the island, with the most sacred observances taking place at Mihintale and Anuradhapura.
• Ritual Activities: Devotees engage in temple visits, meditation, offerings, and acts of charity (Dana) as part of spiritual practice.
• Cultural Expressions: Communities organize free food stalls (Dansalas), decorate homes and streets with lanterns, and display illuminated panels of Buddhist stories.

Why in the News?

Prime Minister paid tributes to Sant Kabir Das on his birth anniversary.

About Sant Kabir:  

• Birth: Sant Kabir was likely born between 1398 and 1440 in Kashi (Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh) and passed away in 1518. According to legend, he was born to a Brahmin widow and later adopted by a Muslim couple, Niru and Nima.
• Early Life: He was raised in the julaha (weaver) community, Kabir’s upbringing among the socially marginalized deeply shaped his teachings on equality and anti-casteism.
• Spiritual Awakening: Though raised in a Muslim household, Kabir became a disciple of Swami Ramananda, a Vaishnava Bhakti saint, and was also influenced by Sufi mysticism, particularly through Shaikh Taqqi.
• Death: Kabir died in Maghar (Uttar Pradesh) in 1518.
• Legacy Site: Legend says his body miraculously vanished, leaving only flowers, which were divided between Hindus and Muslims. Today, a temple and a dargah stand at his burial site.

His Teachings, Literary Style, and Cultural Impact:

• Poetic Style: Kabir wrote in a mix of Hindi, Khari Boli, Bhojpuri, Punjabi, Urdu, Persian, and Marwari. His most famous compositions are Dohe (couplets) and Pads (devotional songs), noted for their simplicity, spiritual insight, and bold social critique.
• Advocacy: He was a strong proponent of Nirguna Bhakti, the worship of a formless, attributeless God. He referred to this divine presence as Ram, Allah, or Shabda, emphasizing that God transcends name and form.
• Spiritual Themes: Kabir’s work reflects non-dualism (Advaita) from the Upanishads and monotheism (Tawhid) from Islam. He believed that salvation lies in inner realization, not through scriptures, priests, or rituals.
• Opposition to Ritualism: He condemned idolatry, pilgrimage, fasting, and caste-based discrimination, urging people to seek God within themselves.
• Social Reform Focus: Kabir stood firmly for social equality, rejecting casteism and religious divisions. His verses challenged orthodoxy and critiqued hollow practices in every community.
• Influence on Sikhism and Bhakti Movement: His poems are included in the Guru Granth Sahib, highlighting his impact on Sikhism. He also inspired spiritual figures like Guru Nanak, Dadu Dayal, and Jiwan Das.
• Cultural Legacy: The Kabir Panth, a spiritual tradition based on his teachings, has over 9.6 million adherents today. Kabir is respected in Hinduism, Islam, and Sikhism alike.

Why in the News?

IIT Gandhinagar researchers have found evidence that humans lived in the Great Rann of Kutch 5,000 years before the Harappans, likely as coastal hunter-gatherers.

About the Khadir Island Sites:

• Location: Khadir Island (Khadir Beyt) is in the Great Rann of Kutch, Gujarat, near the well-known Harappan site of Dholavira.
• Geographic Context: The island is one of 6 that were surrounded by water 5,000–6,000 years ago, due to higher sea levels.
• Discovery Site: In 2016, researchers discovered archaeological remains near Bambhanka, about 1 km from Dholavira.
• Site Features: Findings include house complexes, broken potsherds, marine shells, carnelian and agate flakes, and wall remnants made from random rubble masonry.
• Shell Deposits: A 30–40 cm thick shell deposit was found on a hillock’s western edge, exposed by a pipeline trench. Similar shells were first reported in 1872 by geologist Arthur Beavor Wynne.
• Shell Species: The Terebralia palustris shell species indicates a mangrove ecosystem once existed here.
• Other Sites: Additional shell midden sites were discovered at Laungwali, Kunduwari, Ganeshpar, and Janan, mostly located 2–2.5 km from the coast.

Key Findings:

• Archaeological Significance:
  • Evidence suggests prehistoric hunter-gatherers lived here 7,000–7,500 years ago, before the Harappans.
  • Carbon dating of 15 shell samples shows they are 5,000–5,500 years older than Harappan remains.
  • A 400–500 year time lag may exist due to shellfish diets, meaning actual dates could be older.
• Diet and Food Practices:
  • Broken shell middens and discoloured shells suggest people cooked and ate shellfish.
  • The diet likely included plants, fruits, tubers, and nuts, though no plant remains have yet been found.
• Lifestyle and Settlement:
  • These were mobile hunter-gatherers, not permanent agriculturalists.
  • They likely moved seasonally, occupying each site for part of the year.
• Tool Use:
  • Stone tools (flakes and cores) made of chert, jasper, chalcedony, basalt, limestone, and quartzite were found.
  • Smaller fragments may have served as arrow tips.
  • Agate, found locally, and other materials suggest trade or resource mobility.
• Trade and Cultural Links:
  • Non-local tool stones indicate exchange networks.
  • Similarities with tools from Las Bela (Pakistan) and coastal Oman point to long-distance prehistoric connections across the northern Arabian Sea.