Art & Culture

King Prithu of Kamrup: Assam’s Forgotten Hero

Context: Recently, the Assam Cabinet decided to name a new Guwahati flyover after Prithu, a 13th-century Kamrup ruler, as a symbol of Assam’s historic resistance to foreign invasions.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Prithu: 13th-century Kamrup ruler.

King Prithu of Kamrup

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  • King Prithu, also referred to as Raja Prithu Rae, was a 13th-century king of the Kamarupa kingdom, which corresponds to modern-day Assam.
  • He belonged to the Khen dynasty, who drew their lineage from Narakasura. They worshipped Kamteswari, an incarnation of Hindu Goddess Durga. Khen were probably local chieftains who rose to power after the fall of the Pala Dynasty. 
  • He has not been featured prominently in mainstream historiography, but local lore, inscriptions, and regional narratives elevate him as a heroic defender of the region.
  • He is remembered for defeating the invading army of Bakhtiyar Khilji in 1206 CE.
    • Prithu has gained renewed recognition in recent decades, largely due to the efforts of historian Raktim Patar who wrote Maharaja Prithu: The Unsung Warrior King Who Annihilated Bakhtiyar Khalji in 2021.
  • He also defeated Hisan Uddin Iwaz (Delhi Sultan Ghiassuddin), noted British civil servant Wolseley Haig in The Cambridge History of India, Volume III.

Prithu and Bakhtiyar Khilji’s Invasion: 

  • Bakhtiyar Khilji, a general under Muhammad of Ghor, was one of the earliest Turko-Afghan commanders who attempted to expand Islamic rule into eastern India.
  • In 1205-1206, following his destructive raid on Nalanda and Bengal, Bakhtiyar Khilji aimed to expand his conquests into Tibet through Kamrupa.
  • The campaign ended in disaster, Khilji’s forces were completely routed in Kamrup, with local accounts suggesting that he was fatally wounded.
  • This marked the first successful repulsion of Turko-Afghan incursions into the Northeast frontier. The Kanai Varasi rock inscription (Assam) is proof of the destruction of the Turks who invaded Kamrupa in 1206 CE. 

The identity of the local ruler who inflicted this defeat has remained uncertain due to the absence of direct contemporary evidence, but modern scholars often associate the victory with King Prithu of Kamrup.

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Dhirio: Bull Fight in Goa 

Context: The legislators across party lines in Goa state Assembly have demanded the legalisation of bull fighting in Goa, known locally as Dhirio. Despite being banned, the bull fights continue to be clandestinely held in Goa. 

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about traditional animal-based sports in India. 

About Dhirio

  • The bull fighting, locally referred to as Dhirio or Dhiri, is an integral part of Goa’s cultural fabric. Such fights were organised after the harvest season.
  • Bullfighting involves pitting two bulls against each other in a violent and often bloody confrontation. It is a straight fight till one bull falls or flees. A fight can be over in a few minutes or stretch for more than an hour. 
  • These bull fights have traditionally been held in paddy fields and football grounds of Goa, with village shepherds bringing in their animals.
  • Bull fights have been taking place in Goa for generations going back to the time of the Portuguese. 

Legal Status of Dhirio: 

  • The Goa bench of the Bombay High Court banned Dhirio in 1997, citing violations of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. However, the bull fights continue to be organised clandestinely especially in coastal villages in South Goa and coastal belt in North Goa.

Argument in Support of Ban on Dhirio: 

  • The goal is to incite violence between the animals for entertainment and often gambling. These events subject the animals to significant physical and psychological harm, including fractures, puncture wounds, and severe stress. 
  • Agitated bulls may also charge at spectators, causing grievous injuries.

Important Court judgements in the context

  • In Jallikattu Case 2014 (Animal Welfare Board of India vs A. Nagaraja): The Supreme court ruled that animal life falls within the meaning of Article 21 of the Constitution. The SC noted that all living creatures (including animals) have inherent dignity, right to live peacefully and the right to protect their well-being. 
  • Legal backing to Jallikattu: In 2023, a five judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court dismissed petitions challenging constitutionality of Jallikattu, and upheld the validity of 2017 Tamil Nadu law for allowing bull taming sport Jallikattu. 

So, the legislators in Goa demand a similar exception to Dhirio, like Jallikattu citing the traditional continuity of the sport in the state. 

Also Read: Naangarni Spardha 

Naangarni Spardha

Context: Recently, Naangarni Spardha, the traditional oxen ploughing race was organised at Ringane village in Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri district.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about traditional animal-based sports in India. 

Naangarni Spardha

  • Naangarni Spardha is a traditional oxen race held annually in Ratnagiri district in Maharashtra. 
  • The unique rural sporting tradition thrives during the monsoon season.
  • The oxen race is held on a horseshoe-shaped, mud-filled track. Strict rules are enforced; any oxen pair that touches the track flags or steps outside the boundaries is immediately disqualified. Victory is determined solely by speed. 
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Other livestock‑based sports in India: 

1. Jallikattu:

  • Jallikattu is a traditional bull-taming sport from Tamil Nadu. 
  • In this event, a zebu bull such as the Pulikulam or Kangayam breeds, is released into a crowd of people (not teams), and many people attempt to grab the large hump on the bull's back with both arms and hang on to it while the bull attempts to escape. They hold the hump for as long as possible, attempting to bring the bull to a stop. In some cases, they must ride long enough to remove flags on the bull's horns.
  • Location: Tamil Nadu
  • Duration of the year: January (during Pongal)
  • History of the Event: Inception: around 6th-1st century BCE (Sangam period). It began during the Sangam period when Ayar tribal people living in Mullai region (dense forest) of Tamil Nadu started playing this sport. 
  • Legal backing: In May 2023, a five judge Constitution Bench dismissed petitions challenging constitutionality of Jallikattu and upheld the validity of Tamil Nadu laws protecting the sport.

2. Kambala: 

  • Kambala is an annual buffalo race held in the southwestern Indian states of Karnataka and Maharashtra. 
  • The festival is dedicated to an incarnation of Hindu God Shiva- Lord Kadri Manjunatha. 
  • The festival is celebrated every year after harvest season (generally from November to March) to offer thanks to the god for a year of good harvest. 
  • Traditionally, it was sponsored by local Tuluva landlords in Dakshina Kannada and  Kasaragod region of Kerala, a region collectively known as Tulu Nadu.

Sacred Buddhist Piprahwa gemstones repatriated to India

Context: A collection of 349 gemstones, part of the sacred Piprahwa Buddhist relics, was repatriated to India, 127 years after they were taken during colonial times.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: About Piprahwa Relics. 

These relics had appeared for auction at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, but were acquired and brought back to India through a private initiative led by Pirojsha Godrej of Godrej Industries.

What are the Piprahwa Relics?

  • The Piprahwa relics were discovered in 1898 during a British-era excavation at Piprahwa, near the India-Nepal border in Uttar Pradesh. Piprahwa is believed to be the part of ancient Kapilavastu, the homeland of Lord Buddha
  • The excavation uncovered a Buddhist stupa containing:
    • Bone fragments believed to be of Lord Buddha.
    • Jewel-encrusted reliquaries (349 gemstones).
    • Caskets made of soapstone and crystal, and a sandstone coffer.
    • Most relics were placed in the Indian Museum, Kolkata, but the jewels ultimately went to auction houses.

Why is the Repatriation Significant?

  • Cultural and Religious Value: The relics are deeply sacred to the Buddhist community worldwide. Their discovery and preservation strengthen India’s identity as the cradle of Buddhism.
  • Geopolitical Messaging: By reclaiming Buddhist heritage from Hong Kong (under Chinese influence), India reinforces its Buddhist soft power against China’s attempts to project itself as a guardian of Buddhist legacy.

A large portion of the collection will be displayed at the National Museum Delhi.

Kudavolai System: Chola Ballot Pots 

Context: In a recent address at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, the Prime Minister of India highlighted Chola empire's indigenous democratic tradition, contrasting it with the often-cited Magna Carta of 1215 CE in Britain.

Relevance of the topic:

Prelims: About Chola Empire, Kudavolai System.

Mains: Features, relevance, and limitations of Cholas governance system.

Chola Empire

  • The Chola Empire (9th to 13th centuries CE) is one of the longest-ruling dynasties in South India. It is known for its maritime power, temple architecture, and democratic administrative systems. 
  • Long before the enlightenment in Europe birthed the ideals of representative governance, the Cholas had rules for local self-rule, literally inscribed into stone. 

Chola Democratic System

  • The Chola model of statecraft relied heavily on decentralised administrative systems. It was built on two core village-level institutions:
    • Sabha: Found in Brahmadeya villages (settlements gifted to Brahmins). Composed exclusively of Brahmin male members. Functioned through various committees (variyams) like garden committee, tank committee, justice committee, etc. Selection to these committees was often through the Kudavolai system.
    • Ur: For non-Brahmin villages. Peasant (Vellvangai) settlements were called Ur. Landholders of Ur (peasant village) acted as members of assembly Urar. Urar were entrusted with upkeep of temples, maintenance of tanks and managing water, and oversaw administrative functions like collection of revenue, maintenance of law & order. Less formal structure than Sabha, but still crucial to village-level decentralisation.
  • These were not symbolic councils, but functioning elected bodies with substantial powers over revenue, irrigation, temple management, and even justice.
  • The ‘Uttaramerur Inscription’ issued by Prantaka Chola offers detailed information about the world’s earliest surviving evidence of a formal electoral system called Kudavolai System.

Kudavolai System: Ballot Pot Elections

  • The Kudavolai system, meaning “ballot pot”, was an early electoral method used in Chola village assemblies.
  • Under this method:  
    • The names of eligible candidates were inscribed on palm leaves and placed inside a pot. 
    • A young boy, typically chosen for his impartiality, would draw the lot in full public view. 
    • The selected individual would assume a position in the village assembly.
  • This randomised draw was not a game of chance, but a civic ritual rooted in transparency, fairness, and collective consent. 
  • To ensure that power was not monopolised by dynastic elites, eligibility criteria under the system were strict. 

Eligibility & Disqualification Criteria:

  • Candidates had to own tax-paying land, be between 35 and 70 years old,
  • Possess knowledge of Vedic texts or administration, and 
  • Have no record of crime or domestic abuse. 
  • Debt defaulters, alcoholics, and close relatives of sitting members were disqualified. 

Accountability Mechanism

  • Annual audits were mandatory.
  • Misappropriation of funds or dereliction of duty could lead to disqualification from future office, a radical mechanism even by modern standards.
  • Inscription no. 24 from Epigraphia Indica details the dismissal of a treasury officer over embezzlement, followed by a fine.
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Trade:

  • By empowering merchant guilds such as the Manigramam and Ayyavole, and sustaining local assemblies, the Cholas expanded both trade and legitimacy. 

Limitation of Cholas Administration:

  • However, the Chola system was far from egalitarian in the modern sense. It excluded women, labourers, and landless groups. 

Also Read: Imperial Chola 

Kanwar Yatra 

Context: Recently, the Kanwar Yatra was observed during Hindu month of Shravan. 

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: About Kanwar Yatra.

What is the Kanwar Yatra?

  • The Kanwar Yatra is an annual pilgrimage undertaken by devotees of Lord Shiva, mostly during the Hindu month of Shravan (Saavan).
  • Pilgrims, called Kanwariyas, carry water from the holy river Ganga in decorated slings called kanwars, walking to offer it at Shiva temples.

Mythological Roots: Why Ganga Water?

  • During the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan), a deadly poison (halahal) emerged.
  • To protect the universe, Lord Shiva drank the poison, which turned his throat blue, hence the name Neelkantha. To soothe the burning poison, Ganga water was offered to Shiva.
  • Since, this event occurred in the month of Shravan, offering Ganga water to Shiva during this month is considered highly auspicious.

Despite its mythological links, the Kanwar Yatra in its current mass form is relatively recent. It is not mentioned in major ancient texts or British-era records.

Scholarly analysis suggests that it originated in 1700s Bihar (Sultanganj) and gradually spread across North India.

Where do Pilgrims go?

  • Sources of Ganga water: Haridwar, Gangotri, Gaumukh (Uttarakhand), Sultanganj (Bihar), Varanasi, Prayagraj, Ayodhya.
  • Shiva temples: Offerings can be made at any local Shiva temple, though famous destinations include:
    • 12 Jyotirlingas
    • Baidyanath Dham (Deoghar)
    • Kashi Vishwanath (Varanasi)
    • Pura Mahadev (Baghpat)
    • Augharnath Temple (Meerut)

Why the Rapid Growth?

The popularity of the Yatra received a major boost in the 1980s. Scholars have linked it to following factors: 

  • Improved connectivity and infrastructure made long pilgrimages easier.
  • Hindu Identity Assertion 
  • Rising Incomes in North India 

Sociological Significance: The Kanwar Yatra helps blur rigid caste boundaries by fostering shared religious participation and community bonding across social hierarchies.

Keeladi Archaeological Site

Context: Findings from excavation at Keeladi village in Tamil Nadu's Sivaganga district provide compelling evidence of urban civilisation that existed in Tamil Nadu during the Sangam age.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Keeladi.

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About Keeladi

  • Keeladi is a small village in the Sivaganga district in Tamil Nadu. 
  • It is about 12 km south-east to the temple city of Madurai and is located along the Vaigai river. 

Keeladi Findings: 

  • The excavations here from 2015 prove that an urban civilisation existed in Tamil Nadu in the Sangam Age on the banks of the Vaigai river. 
  • Carbon dating of charcoal discovered at the site in February 2017 established that the settlement dates back to 6th century BCE.
  • Houses built with burnt bricks, well-laid drainage systems, water tanks, and deep wells reflect urban planning and engineering skills.
  • Evidence of industries such as pottery, weaving, dyeing, and bead-making.
  • Square-shaped trenches reveal remnants of furnaces containing soot and ash, confirming that Keeladi was a centre for manufacturing beads made from quartz, carnelian, glass, agate, and other materials. 
  • Discovery of spindle whorls, terracotta beads, and tools points to organised economic activity.
  • The findings also indicate trade and cultural exchange with the Indus Valley Civilisation.
  • Over 120 potsherds containing Tamil Brahmi inscriptions have been found. There are Tamil words engraved on the potteries that mention the names of individuals like 'Aathan', 'Uthiran' and 'Thiesan'.  

How is Keeladi linked to the Sangam Age?

  • The Sangam age is a period of history in ancient Tamil Nadu which was believed to be from the third century BCE to the third century CE. The name is derived from the renowned Sangam poets of Madurai from that time. 
  • Excavations by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and Tamil Nadu State Archaeology Department (TNSDA) have pushed the Sangam age further back.  
    • In 2019, a TNSDA report dated the unearthed artefacts from Keeladi to a period between sixth century BCE and first century BCE. 
    • One of the six samples collected at a depth of 353 cm, sent for carbon dating in the US, dated back to 580 BCE. 
  • Keeladi could provide crucial evidence for understanding the missing links of the Iron Age (12th century BCE to sixth century BCE) to the Early Historic Period (sixth century BCE to fourth century BCE) and subsequent cultural developments. 

What is the controversy surrounding Keeladi?

  • After reports of possible links with the Indus Valley Civilisation, the third round (2017) of diggings by the ASI saw a delayed start. 
  • Superintending Archaeologist Amarnath Ramakrishna was transferred to Assam, allegedly in a perceived attempt to play down the excavation findings. 
  • Keeladi almost faded from public memory as there was no “significant finding” in the third round. This led to criticism that the excavation had been deliberately restricted to 400 metres. 

Are there Links to Indus Valley?  

  • The unearthed Keeladi artefacts have led academics to describe the site as part of the Vaigai Valley Civilisation. 
  • The findings have also invited comparisons with the Indus Valley Civilisation while acknowledging the cultural gap of 1000 years between the two places.
    • Till now, the gap is filled with Iron Age material in south India, which serve as residual links.  
    • However, some of the symbols found in pot sherds of Keeladi bear a close resemblance to Indus Valley signs. 
  • TNSDA affirms that Keeladi has all the characteristics of an urban civilisation, with brick structures, luxury items and proof of internal and external trade. Keeladi has also added to the credibility of Sangam Literature. 

Maratha Military Landscapes in UNESCO’s World Heritage List

Context: During the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) held in Paris, Maratha Fort Systems in India got UNESCO Heritage Tag.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: About Maratha Military Landscape, UNESCO World Heritage Tag.

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Maratha Military Landscapes in UNESCO’s World Heritage List

  • Maratha Military Landscapes of India has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The decision was taken during the ongoing 47th session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) being held in Paris. 
  • With this inscription, India now has 44 properties on the UNESCO World Heritage List. India ranks 6th globally and 2nd in Asia Pacific Region for the most number of World Heritage Sites.
  • The purpose of including these heritage sites in UNESCO’s list is to preserve and promote shared heritage based on OUVs (Outstanding Universal Values) found in cultural, natural as well as mixed properties across 196 countries. 
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About Maratha Military Landscapes

  • Maratha Military Landscapes of India is an extraordinary network of twelve forts spread across the states of Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
  • The list includes forts at: Raigad, Salher, Shivneri, Lohagad, Khanderi, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala, Vijaydurg, Sindhudurg (Maharashtra) and one Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu. 
  • The forts are located across a range of diverse terrains- from coastal outposts to hilltop strongholds - reflecting a sophisticated understanding of geography and strategic defence planning.
  • Time Period: 17th to 19th Centuries CE. 

UNESCO’s World Heritage List:

  • UNESCO’s World Heritage Convention was adopted in 1972 and entered into force in 1975.
  • Objective: To identify, protect and help preserve international sites of exceptional ecological, scientific, or cultural importance. 
  • As of 2025: India has 44 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These include 36 cultural sites, 7 natural sites, and 1 mixed site (Khangchendzonga National Park).
  • In 2024, the Moidams of Charaideo, Assam was inscribed in the World Heritage List.

Also Read: ‘Moidams’ to be considered for World Heritage List

Pandharpur Wari

Context: Every year, in the month of June-July, thousands of devotees in Maharashtra embark on a spiritual journey (yatra) called Pandharpur Wari. 

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Pandharpur Wari. 

Pandharpur Wari

  • The Pandharpur wari is an annual pilgrimage (yatra) from various parts of Maharashtra to Pandharpur in Maharashtra, the abode of Lord Vitthal (revered form of Lord Vishnu).
  • It involves carrying the paduka (sacred sandals) of saints in a palki, most notably of Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj and Sant Tukaram Maharaj, from their respective shrines to Pandharpur.  Many pilgrims join this procession on foot. 
  • The tradition is more than 700 to 800 years old. Warkari means "one who performs the wari". Warkaris (devotees) walk for nearly 20 days, covering over 250 kilometres on foot.

Along the way, they sing abhangas (devotional songs) and perform kirtans.

Also Read: Bhakti Movement in Maharashtra 

Dalai Lama

Context: India raised a strong objection to China's demand that Beijing must approve the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, asserting that no one except the Tibetan spiritual leader himself has the authority to decide on his successor.

Relevance of the Topic Prelims- Key facts about Dalai Lama. 

Dalai Lama

Who is Dalai Lama?

  • “Dalai Lama” is a title which is a combination of the Mongolic word dalai ('ocean') and the Tibetan word lama ('master, guru').
  • This title was first conferred in 1578 upon Sonam Gyatso, the leader of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, by Altan Khan, the first Shunyi King of Ming China.
  • The first two Dalai Lamas were offered this title posthumously. The Third Dalai Lama was a living leader to receive this title (Sonam Gyatso).

The Dalai Lama Lineage: 

  • The institution of the Dalai Lama is part of the tulku concept in Tibetan Buddhism, in which spiritual masters are reincarnated upon their death, so that their teachings can be preserved and carried forward.
  • All tulkus in the lineage of the Dalai Lamas are considered manifestations of the Buddha Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion. 
  • The 14th Dalai Lama (Tenzin Gyatso) escaped from Lhasa in 1959 during the Tibetan diaspora and lives in exile in Dharamsala, India. He was recognised as the reincarnation of the previous 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso at the age of two. Bodhisattvas are persons who are on the path to becoming a Buddha, but who put the liberation of other sentient beings ahead of entering nirvana themselves.
  • The first Dalai Lama, Gedun Drupa, was born in 1391. Beginning with Lobsang Gyatso (1617-82), the fifth of the line, the Dalai Lama became both the spiritual and political leader of Tibetan Buddhists. 

Significance: 

  • The Dalai Lama is the symbol of unification of Tibet.
  • He represents Buddhist values and traditions not tied to a specific school.
  • From the 5th Dalai Lama onwards, the lineage was enjoined with the secular role of governing Tibet. 

14th Dalai Lama and Tibetan government-in-exile

  • The 14th Dalai Lama (Tenzin Gyatso) was born in the hamlet of Taktser in north-eastern Tibet, now Qinghai province of China, on July 6, 1935. He was identified at age 2 as the reincarnation of Thubten Gyatso, the 13th Dalai Lama.
  • 1951: Tibet was annexed by China. 
  • 1959: Tibetan national uprising was crushed by Chinese troops. The 14th Dalai Lama escaped from Lhasa along with a group of his followers, and crossed into India at Khenzimane in Arunachal Pradesh. 
  • 1960: Jawaharlal Nehru’s government settled him in McLeodganj, Dharamshala, where the Tibetan government-in-exile was established.
  • 2011: Dalai Lama wrote to the Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies, known as the Tibetan parliament-in-exile, asking to be relieved of his temporal authority. Formal transfer of political power to the democratically elected leader of Tibetans living in exile took place, ending a 368-year-old tradition in which the Dalai Lama was both the spiritual and political head of Tibetans.

Dalai Lama & China: 

  • China denounces the 14th Dalai Lama as a “splittist”, “traitor”, and an exile with “no right to represent the Tibetan people”, and prohibits any public show of devotion towards him.
  • In his 2011 statement, the Dalai Lama had said that his reincarnation should be found in a free country, not under Chinese control. No recognition should be given to a reincarnation selected for political purposes by the Chinese government.
  • Tibetans fear that as the Dalai Lama grows older, Beijing could announce a successor of its choice, and use it to tighten its control over the Tibetan Buddhist religion and culture.

15th Dalai Lama: 

  • 2025: 14th Dalai Lama announced that the 600-year-old institution of the Dalai Lama would continue and the Gaden Phodrang Trust (the official office of the Dalai Lama) shall be the sole authority to recognise the future reincarnation.

Gaden Phodrang:

  • Gaden Phodrang refers to the residential quarters of the Dalai Lama lineage from the second Dalai Lama onward at Drepung Monastery in Lhasa, Tibet.
  • After the Potala Palace was built (by a decree of the fifth Dalai Lama), the Dalai Lamas moved away from these quarters, and stayed at Potala Palace in winter and Norbulingka (built by the seventh Dalai Lama about 100 years after Potala) in summer. This tradition was followed until the 14th Dalai Lama’s escape from Lhasa to India in March 1959.

There are three institutions associated with Dalai Lama: 

1. Gaden Phodrang Trust: 

  • Registered in 2011 in Dharamshala with the aim of recognising the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama. 
  • It is based in the office of the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama heads the trust, whose members include some other aides of the spiritual leader.

2. Gaden Phodrang Foundation: 

  • Tax-exempt Swiss nonprofit with its registered office in Zurich, and is supervised by the Swiss Federal Department of Home Affairs. 
  • It is funded by charitable contributions made by the founder and the public.
  • The Dalai Lama is the founder and president of the foundation.
  • Aim: To maintain and support the tradition and institution of the Dalai Lama, preserve Tibetan culture, promote basic human values, mutual understanding among religions, peace and non-violence, and protection of the environment.

3. Dalai Lama Trust: 

  • Non-profit charitable organisation founded by the 14th Dalai Lama in 2009, headquartered in New Delhi.

Aim: To support the welfare of the Tibetan people and to promote human values, interfaith harmony, and world peace. Support Tibetan students and scholars and fund schools and educational institutions.

Key Facts:

  • The 14th Dalai Lama was conferred the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. 
  • Books authored by him: Freedom in Exile (autobiography); Voice for the Voiceless.

Legal dispute over Tomb of Sheikh Muhammad Ghaus

Context: Madhya Pradesh High Court has rejected a plea seeking to conduct religious and cultural practices at the tomb of Sufi Saint Sheikh Muhammad Ghaus in Gwalior. 

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: About Tomb of Sheikh Muhammad Ghaus. 

The High Court ruled that allowing religious practices at a Centrally Protected Monument was not permissible. Allowing such rituals could lead to a “national loss”, destroying the monument’s “originality, sanctity and vitality”.

Sheikh Muhammad Ghaus

  • Sheikh Muhammad Ghaus was the 16th century musician and Sufi Saint of Shattari Order.
  • He was the contemporary of 3 Mughal emperors: Babur, Humayun, and Akbar. 
  • He played an instrumental part in Babur’s conquest of Gwalior fort in 1526. The saint suggested tactics to Mughal Army chiefs to establish their presence in the city and provided privileged information to them which eventually enabled them to plan a secret night attack to capture the fort.
  • He was also Humayun’s teacher. 
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About Tomb of Sheikh Muhammad Ghaus: 

  • The tomb of Sheikh Muhammad Ghaus was built in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh soon after his death in 1563.
  • It is one of the earliest and most iconic examples of Mughal funerary architecture and is considered one of the most notable structures of Akbar’s reign (1556-1605 CE).
  • The tomb has influence of Indian architecture, specifically from Gujarat and Rajasthan, which eventually evolved into Indo-Muslim architecture.
  • It is listed as a Centrally Protected Monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. It has been maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) since 1962.
  • The grave of Tansen, legendary musician of Akbar’s Court, is located on the premises of the monument. Tansen was a disciple of Sheikh Muhammad Ghaus. 
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Annual Rath Yatra in Puri 

Context: The annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath and his siblings Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra will begin in the temple town of Puri, Odisha on June 27, 2025. 

Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Key facts about Ratha Yatra; Lord Jagannath Temple. 

Rath Yatra

  • The Ratha Yatra, also known as the Ratha Jatra or chariot festival, is a magnificent Hindu celebration held annually in the city of Puri, Odisha, India.
  • It is considered the oldest and largest chariot festival in the Hindu tradition, taking place during the bright half of the lunar month of Ashadh (June or July).
  • The festival revolves around the worship of Lord Jagannath, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu or Krishna, and his siblings Balabhadra and Subhadra.
  • During the Ratha Yatra, the three deities are ceremoniously pulled in massive wooden chariots from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple.
  • The deities reside in the Gundicha Temple for a week and then return to their abode in the Jagannath temple (Bahuda Yatra).
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About Jagannath Temple

  • Ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Jagannath, a form of Vishnu. 
  • The present temple was rebuilt by the king of the Eastern Ganga dynasty, Anantavarman Chodaganga, in the 10th century CE. 
  • Location: Puri, Odisha (eastern coast of India). 
  • Deities worshipped: Jagannath, Subhadra and Balabhadra 
  • The idol of Lord Jagannath is made of wood (neem wood, known as Daru) and is ceremoniously replaced every 12 or 19 years by an exact replica.
  • The temple is built in the Kalinga Architecture. The temple has distinct sectional structures: Deula, Vimana or Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum).
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