© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Are you preparing for UPSC CSE Prelims? UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of daily subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Today’s quiz focusses on historical and cultural relevance of Diwali.
‘Zee astin rang-e-zeest. Zee astin roshni-e-zeest. Barmala mee azghaf jashn-e-durai’ refers to two important festivals of India. Which contemporary poet of Balban wrote these lines?
(a) Dagh Dehlvi
(b) Shams-i-Siraj Afif
(c) Amir Khusrau
(d) Ibrahim Zauq
— Poet-musician Amir Khusrau called Diwali Roshni-e-Zeest in a taslees (a verse of three lines) in the Pahalavi language. He writes: Zee astin rang-e-zeest. Zee astin roshni-e-zeest. Barmala mee azghaf jashn-e-durai (One festival bespeaks the colours of life and another one enumerates the light of life. Ergo, these two festivals are so dear to me).
Therefore, c is the correct answer.
(For more, refer —How Diwali became a festival of food and memories, history and culture, The Indian Express.)
In which 7th-century Sanskrit play is Diwali referred to as Dīpapratipadutsava (Festival of Lamps)?
(a) Kavyamimamsa
(b) Urubhanga
(c) Svapnavasavadattam
(d) Nagananda
— Diwali begins at the end of the cropping season and is often associated with wealth and happiness. According to mythology, the festival is mentioned as Deepapratipadutsava in the seventh century Sanskrit play Nagananda, where newlywed couples were given gifts and lamps in remembrance of Lord Vishnu and goddess Lakshmi’s marriage.
— Deepavali is also referred to as Dipamalika in the famous Sanskrit poet Rajasekhara’s ninth century work Kavyamimamsa, where traditions of homes being cleaned and decorated with lights are mentioned. Hence, during this time, it is a ritual to clean rooms and offices and adorn houses with lights.
Therefore, d is the correct answer.
(For more, refer —History, Importance and Significance of Diwali festival in India, The Indian Express.)
Consider the following statements:
1. In Jainism, Diwali marks the ascension of Lord Mahavira to the Siddha Loka, the realm of liberated souls, after attaining nirvana, and is celebrated as a festival of spiritual significance.
2. In Sikhism, Diwali coincides with Bandi Chhor Divas, commemorating the event when Guru Hargobind Ji secured the release of 52 imprisoned kings from Emperor Jahangir’s fort upon his own release.
Which of the above given statements is/are true?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
— Diwali is the Prakrit way of saying Deepavali, a Sanskrit word meaning ‘the festival of lights’. This festival has been increasingly dominated by a single Hindi-belt narrative: that it commemorates Rama’s return to Ayodhya after his forest-exile. But Diwali is also about Krishna and Yama and Lakshmi and Bali. At the same time, it is a Jain festival marking the ascent of Mahavira to the heaven of Tirthankaras. And it is a Sikh celebration in memory of how Guru Hargobind enabled the release of 52 kings when he was finally set free from Jehangir’s prison. People have found many reasons to celebrate this festival, suggesting it predates all narratives.
Therefore, c is the correct answer.
(For more, refer — Devdutt Pattanaik on how Rama’s return to Ayodhya is one of the many stories around Diwali, The Indian Express.)
Which of the following festivals is/are recognised as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage?
1. Novruz
2. Chatt Puja
3. Durga Puja
4. Diwali
Select the correct code:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 and 4 only
(d) 1 and 3 only
— UNESCO recognizes Novruz and Durga Puja as intangible cultural heritage.
Therefore, d is the correct answer.
(For more, refer — ich.unesco.org)
Which new world records were set at this year’s Deepotsav in Ayodhya?
1. largest Rangoli (Floor Art) made by hand
2. most number of people performing ‘aarti’ simultaneously.
3. largest display of oil lamps
Select the correct code:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
— Two new world records were set at this year’s Deepotsav in Ayodhya: 26.17 lakh diyas lit at the same place as 2,128 people performed ‘aarti’ together for the grand celebrations in the temple town, the Uttar Pradesh government said.
— Representatives from the Guinness World Records made the announcement after verifying the count of the diyas using drones, a government statement said.
— UP Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh and Principal Secretary Amrit Abhijat presented the Guinness certificate to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
— The first Guinness award was given for the largest display of oil lamps (26,17,215) achieved jointly by the UP Department of Tourism, the Ayodhya administration, and the Rammanohar Lohia Avadh University.
— Another award was given for the most number of people performing ‘aarti’ simultaneously. The tourism department, the district administration and the Saryu Aarti Samiti in Ayodhya jointly achieven this feat, the statement said.
Therefore, c is the correct answer.
(For more, refer — Ayodhya Deepotsav: New world record with 26.17 lakh diyas, 2128 people performing aarti together, The Indian Express.)
Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week.
Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.
