Current Affairs - Art and Culture

Assam has been granted Geographical Indication (GI) tags for eight traditional products, including distinctive rice beer variants deeply rooted in Bodo culture. The GI tags recognize the cultural heritage and traditional knowledge of the Bodo community. Products like Bodo Jou Gwran, with its high alcohol content and traditional brewing methods, have gained national and international recognition. This milestone preserves Assam's cultural identity and promotes its unique products, contributing to the state's economic growth and cultural preservation. The GI tags also safeguard the intellectual property rights of local artisans and brewers.

India successfully negotiated the return of 297 antiquities from the United States, bringing the total number of recovered artifacts since 2014 to 640. This achievement is a testament to India's efforts to preserve its cultural heritage, bolstered by the 2024 Cultural Property Agreement with the US aimed at combating illicit trafficking. The returned antiquities include notable pieces like a 12th-century Nataraja statue and 105 artifacts returned post-2023 visit. This development highlights the importance of international cooperation in protecting cultural treasures.

The Bharat Gaurav luxury tourist train was launched to promote cultural and spiritual tourism between India and Nepal. The train, part of the Bharat Nepal Maitri Yatra, covers important religious and cultural sites in both countries, including Ayodhya and Varanasi in India and Janakpur and Kathmandu in Nepal. This initiative, by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), aims to strengthen cultural ties and enhance the spiritual tourism experience between the two neighbouring countries.

Nadi Utsav 2024, which celebrates the importance of India's rivers, was inaugurated at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) in New Delhi on September 19th. This fifth edition of the festival carries the theme ‘Rivers in Reverse: Making of a Lifeline’, emphasizing the critical components of a river and its surrounding culture. The event aims to raise awareness about the ecological and cultural significance of rivers, showcasing the connection between waterways and the communities that depend on them. Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, the IGNCA Member Secretary, played a key role in the festival's organization.

The 19th Divya Kala Mela was inaugurated in Visakhapatnam, showcasing a diverse array of products created by 100 Divyang artisans from 20 states. This event aims to promote financial independence and inclusion for Divyang entrepreneurs through concessional loans and assistive devices supported by corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. The fair features handicrafts, handlooms, and cultural performances, making it a vibrant platform for empowering Divyang artisans and encouraging local entrepreneurship. The event underscores the commitment to fostering an inclusive society and enhancing economic opportunities for all participants.