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The 'Mahanavami Dibba' at Hampi, a massive platform in the royal centre of Vijayanagara, was associated with:
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Answer: Option A — Royal ceremonies of the Mahanavami (Navaratri) festival
Detailed Solution
The "Mahanavami Dibba" ("Mahanavami platform") is a very large platform in the royal centre of Vijayanagara (Hampi), associated with the royal ceremonies of the Mahanavami festival.
About the Mahanavami Dibba:
- NCERT describes it as one of the most distinctive structures of the royal centre.
- It rises from a base of about 11,000 square feet to a height of 40 feet.
- There is evidence that it supported a wooden structure.
- The base of the platform is covered with relief carvings showing processions of elephants, horses, soldiers, dancers, musicians, hunting scenes and foreign visitors.
- It is located on one of the highest points in the city.
The Mahanavami festival:
- "Mahanavami" means the great ninth day, and refers to the ninth day of the Navaratri festival (Dussehra), held in September-October.
- NCERT explains that rituals associated with the structure probably coincided with Mahanavami.
- The Vijayanagara kings displayed their prestige, power and suzerainty on this occasion.
- The ceremonies included worship of the image, worship of the state horse, and the sacrifice of buffaloes and other animals.
- Dances, wrestling matches and processions of caparisoned horses, elephants, chariots and soldiers were held.
- The nayakas and subordinate kings presented gifts to the king and his guests.
- On the last day, the king inspected his army and that of the nayakas in a grand ceremony in an open field.
Descriptions by travellers:
The Persian envoy Abdur Razzaq and the Portuguese visitor Domingo Paes described the splendid celebrations.
Other buildings in the royal centre:
- The "King's Audience Hall" (a large platform with sockets for wooden pillars).
- The "Lotus Mahal" (so named by British travellers).
- The Hazara Rama temple (probably used by the king and his household).
- The elephant stables.
Why not the other options?
- ✗The platform was not linked with the Bahmani Sultans, grain storage or elephant housing.
Quick tip
Remember: Mahanavami Dibba (Hampi) = platform for royal ceremonies of the Mahanavami (Navaratri) festival (NCERT; 11,000 sq ft base, 40 ft high; relief carvings).
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This topic covers India's important monuments, temples, mosques, churches, gurudwaras and pilgrimage sites, who built them and when, their architectural styles, and India's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Questions ask who built a monument, where it is located, or which dynasty or style it belongs to. For example, the Qutub Minar was begun by Qutbuddin Aibak, and the Sun Temple at Konark was built by the Eastern Ganga king Narasimhadeva I. Revise the UNESCO World Heritage Sites as a list, noting the most recent additions. Practise the monuments and religious places questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.