Art, Culture & Festivals — Set 11

Correct Answer: B. Kushti (wrestling) — with deep roots in Haryanvi village culture and akhara tradition

Kushti (traditional wrestling) is Haryana's most famous martial art and sport tradition, deeply embedded in village culture through the akhara (wrestling pit) system. Every village traditionally had an akhara where young men trained in wrestling. This akhara culture has produced world-class wrestlers including Sushil Kumar, Bajrang Punia, Yogeshwar Dutt, and the Phogat sisters. The Jabalpur Wrestling Championships have long featured Haryana as the dominant state. Wrestling culture in Haryana combines physical fitness with values of discipline, community, and honor.

Correct Answer: B. Vidai geet (farewell songs)

Vidai geet (farewell/departure songs) are poignant folk songs sung by women of the bride's family when the bride departs from her parental home after the wedding ceremony. These songs typically express the sorrow of separation, the father's love for his daughter, and the bride's feelings of leaving her childhood home. Vidai songs are considered among the most emotionally moving folk songs in Haryanvi tradition. The tradition is common across north India but has distinctly Haryanvi lyrical flavors in the state.

Correct Answer: B. Called 'Mini Cuba' for producing exceptional boxers like Vijender Singh and Akhil Kumar

Bhiwani is called 'Mini Cuba of India' for producing an extraordinary number of boxing champions comparable to Cuba's boxing excellence. Bhiwani Boxing Club (BBC) has produced Olympic and world-class boxers including Vijender Singh (Olympic Bronze, Beijing 2008 — first Olympic boxing medal from India), Akhil Kumar, and Jitender Kumar. The boxing culture in Bhiwani is deeply ingrained with community support for boxers. This sports tradition makes Bhiwani an important part of Haryana's sporting heritage.

Correct Answer: B. A cultural symbol of community life — used for Chaupal gatherings, sleeping, and as a symbol of rural life

Charpai (literally 'four legs' — a woven string bed) is a cultural icon of Haryanvi and rural North Indian life. It serves multiple purposes: sleeping, sitting in Chaupal gatherings, as a seating arrangement for guests, and as a symbol of rural hospitality. Traditional Charpai weaving using jute or cotton strings on a wooden frame is a craft tradition. The Charpai figures prominently in Haryanvi folk songs, poetry, and humor as a symbol of the simple, unhurried village lifestyle. Haryanvi people have a deep cultural attachment to the Charpai.

Correct Answer: B. Kurukshetra

Kurukshetra is being developed as a major religious tourism hub by Haryana government and the Kurukshetra Development Board through infrastructure development, heritage site restoration, and tourist facilities. The 48 tirthas circuit, Brahma Sarovar, Jyotisar, Shrikrishna Museum, and the International Geeta Mahotsav all contribute to Kurukshetra's appeal. The Haryana government has plans for a 'Mahabharata Experiential Center' at Kurukshetra. The city attracts millions of pilgrims and tourists annually, making it Haryana's most important religious tourism destination.

Correct Answer: B. They protect wildlife, especially Blackbucks and trees, as a religious duty — pioneering India's nature conservation tradition

The Bishnoi community of Haryana (and Rajasthan) has a 500-year tradition of protecting wildlife and trees as a religious duty derived from the 29 tenets (Bish = 20, Noi = 9 → 29 tenets) of Guru Jambheshwar (1451-1536) from Jodhpur. They protect Blackbucks, chinkara gazelles, and trees (especially Khejri) with their lives. The 1730 Khejadali massacre in Rajasthan where 363 Bishnois sacrificed themselves to save trees is considered the first 'Chipko' movement. Bishnoi ecological values have influenced India's conservation culture.

Correct Answer: B. Haryana Art and Culture in Schools program promoting folk music, dance, and crafts

Haryana government has launched programs to integrate folk arts (Saang, Ragini, Phulkari, Dhamal, Khoria) into school curricula to ensure the younger generation is exposed to their cultural heritage. Schools in Haryana are required to organize cultural programs during national festivals. Haryana government's cultural department runs workshops, competitions, and festivals to keep folk traditions alive. The Haryanvi Cultural Academy also works toward documentation of endangered folk traditions.

Correct Answer: B. Kurukshetra University (1956)

Kurukshetra University, established in 1956, is the oldest university in Haryana. It was established even before Haryana became a separate state (1966) when the region was still part of Punjab state. The university is named after the sacred city of Kurukshetra and has departments covering arts, science, commerce, law, and culture. Its museum, Sanskrit department, and cultural centers make it not just an educational institution but a custodian of Haryana's cultural heritage.

Correct Answer: B. Deep-rooted cultural and religious tradition of cow veneration among Hindu communities of Haryana

Gau Raksha (cow protection) has deep cultural and religious roots in Haryanvi Hindu tradition, where the cow is venerated as 'Gau Mata' (Mother Cow). The Haryana government has established gaushalas (cow shelters) across the state and passed the Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Act to protect cows from slaughter. The Bishnoi community's protection of cattle as a religious tradition is part of this broader culture. Haryana's rural life has historically been organized around cattle-based agriculture, giving cows both economic and cultural significance.

Correct Answer: B. Khari Boli is a speech form related to Hindi-Hindustani that forms the basis of standard Hindi, spoken in Haryana and western UP

Khari Boli (the 'standing' or formal speech) is the dialect of Hindi spoken in Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi that formed the basis of Modern Standard Hindi (Shuddha Hindi) and Urdu. It is distinct from Braj Bhasha (Vrindavan area) and Avadhi (Lucknow-Faizabad area). Haryana being in the Khari Boli belt is the linguistic reason the state was carved out of Punjab in 1966 as a Hindi-speaking state. The Haryanvi dialect is essentially a variant of Khari Boli with distinct rural vocabulary.