Kalaripayattu has been included in the list of events for demonstration and removed from competition section in 38^th national games to be held in Uttarakhand.

About Kalaripayattu

• Developed in Kerala, it is one of the most ancient martial traditions (traced to Sangam Period).
• ‘Kalari’ signifies the training centre or the place where practice occurs, and ‘Payattu’ means the fight or rigorous physical practice.
• Two main styles:
  • Vadakkan or Northern style practiced in the Malabar region of Kerala.
  • Thekken or Southern Style practiced mainly in the Travancore region.

Recently, the Konda Reddi tribe was in news for preferring live-in relationship over marriage due to expensive traditional weddings.

About Konda Reddi Tribe

• They are recognized as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG). 
• Habitation: In the hilly and forest tracts of East and West Godavari in Andhra Pradesh and Khammam districts of Telangana.
• Mother Tongue: Telugu.
• Family and Marriage: Family is patriarchal and patrilocal. Monogamy is a rule but polygamous families are also found. 
• Faith and Festivals: They worship Muthayalamma (Village deity), Bhumi Devi (Earth Goddess), Gangamma Devi (River Goddess) etc., and celebrate festivals like Mamidi Kotha, Bhudevi Panduga, Gangamma Panduga and Vana Devudu Panduga.

Recently, India witnessed the celebration of harvest festivals.

Harvest Festivals of India

About: Celebrated in diverse forms across the various regions, these festivals show the harmonious relationship with nature. 

Major Festivals

• Lohri (North with roots in Punjab): Celebrated as the departure of the winter season. 
• Makar Sankranti (North India):  Marks the onset of summer and six months auspicious period for Hindus called Uttarayan, the northward movement of the sun.
• Pongal (South India):  Four-day event dedicated to the Sun God marks the Sun’s journey northward.
• Bhogali Bihu (Assam): Marks the end of harvesting season.

Boda Tyohar festival (locally known as Magho ko Tyohar), the largest annual celebration for the Hatti tribes of the Trans-Giri region in Himachal Pradesh has started.

About Hatti Tribe

• Notified as Scheduled Tribe under the Constitution (Scheduled Tribe) Order (Second Amendment) Act, 2023.
• Named after their tradition of selling homegrown produce, etc at small markets known as 'Haat’ (weekly markets) in towns.
• Often referred to as trans-Giri due to their location near the Giri and Tons river
• Live in states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.

Maha Kumbh 2025 is being held in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.

About Kumbh Mela

• It is the world’s largest public gathering.
• It is a religious pilgrimage that is celebrated four times over a course of 12 years.
• Site keeps rotating between one of the four pilgrimages:
  • Haridwar (Uttarakhand), Ganges.
  • Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh), Shipra River.
  • Nashik (Maharashtra), Godavari River.
  • Prayagraj at the confluence of Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical invisible Sarasvati.
• Other key Facts: 
  • It has been listed as an Intangible Cultural Heritage under UNESCO in 2017.
  • Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang (visited India in the 7th century during the reign of King Harshavardhana) was the first to mention Kumbh Mela in his diary.
  • Saint Shankaracharya gave Kumbh Mela its final shape in 9^th century. 

Ministry of Defence launches Bharat Ranbhoomi Darshan website and app as part of its 'Battlefield Tourism' plan.

About Bharat Ranbhoomi Darshan

• It will be a one-stop destination for information and clearances for battlefield visits, featuring virtual tours and historical narratives.
• Indian Army, in conjunction with Ministry of Tourism, has shortlisted some other border sites that have witnessed military action in the past
  • These include Kibithoo and Bum La Pass (Arunachal Pradesh), Rezang La and Pangong Tso (Ladakh), and Doklam (site of 2017 conflict).

Recently, President of India presented National Sports Award 2024.

6 Categories of National Sports Awards 

• Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award (1991-92): Awarded for outstanding performances in sports spanning over a period of 4 years. 
  • recently, it has been awarded to Gukesh D (Chess), Harmanpreet Singh (Hockey), Praveen Kumar (Para-Athletics), Manu Bhaker (Shooting).
• Arjuna Award (1961): Awarded for consistent good performance over a period of 4 years.
• Dronacharya Award (1985): It is highest sports honour for coaches.
• Major Dhyan Chand Award (2002): India’s highest honour for lifetime achievements in sports.
• Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar (2009): Awarded to organisations /corporates (private & public) & individuals for playing a role in area of sports promotion & development over last 3 years.