Consider the following statements about the Mahanavami Dibba : 1. It was the name of a giant box of sweets distributed at the Mahanavami festival. 2. It was the name of a massive platform with a base covered with relief carvings. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.1 only
- B.2 only
- C.Both 1 and 2
- D.Neither 1 nor 2
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is B, 2 only. The Mahanavami Dibba is a massive stone platform in the royal centre of Hampi, the Vijayanagara capital, with its base covered in relief carvings.
The platform rises in tiers from a base of about 11,000 square feet to a height of around 40 feet. Its carvings show processions of horses and elephants, hunting scenes, musicians and dancers. Historians link it to the Mahanavami festival, held during the nine days of Navaratri in autumn, when the king watched displays, received the homage of nayakas and reviewed his army and horses. Krishnadeva Raya is believed to have built or expanded it after his campaign against Odisha.
A is wrong because statement 1 is false: the name refers to the platform, not to any box of sweets. C is wrong because only statement 2 is true. D is wrong because statement 2 is a correct description of the monument.
Exam tip: Mahanavami Dibba, the royal platform at Hampi, used for the Navaratri (Mahanavami) celebrations of Vijayanagara kings.
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