Question map
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?
Explanation
The Mahanavami Dibba is a massive stone platform located in the Royal Enclosure of Hampi, the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire [1]. Statement 1 is incorrect as the term 'Dibba' refers to a platform or mound, not a box of sweets. Statement 2 is correct; the structure is a three-tiered platform rising to a height of about 40 feet from a base of approximately 11,000 square feet [1]. The base and sides of the platform are elaborately covered with relief carvings depicting royal ceremonies, hunting scenes, military parades, and daily life [1]. It served as a focal point for the ten-day Mahanavami festival, where the king presided over rituals, watched processions, and received tribute from nayakas [1]. Built by King Krishnadevaraya to commemorate his victory over Udayagiri, it remains one of the most iconic structures of Vijayanagara architecture.
Sources
- [1] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 7: An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara > 4.1 The mahanavami dibba > p. 180