SSC
According to the Natyashastra tradition, Mohiniyattam is a form of:
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Answer: Option C — Lasya dance
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Lasya dance. Mohiniyattam, the classical dance of Kerala, is regarded as a classic example of the lasya style described in the Natyashastra. Lasya is the soft, graceful, lyrical and feminine aspect of dance, associated with the goddess Parvati, while tandava is the vigorous, powerful aspect associated with Lord Shiva.
Mohiniyattam means "the dance of the enchantress", from Mohini, the beautiful female form taken by Lord Vishnu. It is performed only by women, as a solo dance. Its movements are gentle and flowing, with the body swaying from side to side in a way that is often compared to the swaying of palm trees and the gentle movement of the waves of Kerala's backwaters. The dancers avoid sudden jumps or jerky movements, and the emphasis is on grace, expression and subtle emotion. The dance is performed in the Sopana style of music, with songs in Manipravalam (a mix of Malayalam and Sanskrit), and the main percussion instrument is the edakka. The costume is a white or off-white saree with a gold border, and the hair is tied in a bun on the left side of the head, decorated with jasmine flowers.
Mohiniyattam was developed and supported by Maharaja Swathi Thirunal of Travancore in the 19th century, who composed many songs for it. In the 20th century, the poet Vallathol Narayana Menon revived it through the Kerala Kalamandalam, which he founded in 1930. Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma, a famous dancer and teacher, played a major role in its revival and wrote important books about it.
About the other options:
- Tandava dance is the vigorous, masculine style, seen in dances such as Kathakali.
- Martial dance refers to forms such as Thang-Ta, Paika and Choliya.
- Ritual folk theatre refers to forms such as Theyyam and Mudiyettu.
💡 Exam tip
Mohiniyattam is the classic example of lasya, while Kathakali, from the same state, is mainly tandava. Questions often contrast these two dances of Kerala.💬 Discussions on this question
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Ask a doubtMore Indian Dance Forms Questions
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Indian Dance Forms — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Indian Dance Forms, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
Indian dance forms are one of the most frequently tested areas of static GK. This topic covers the eight classical dances recognised by the Sangeet Natak Akademi (Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Manipuri, Mohiniyattam and Sattriya), the folk and tribal dances of every state, and related terms such as mudra, abhinaya, lasya and tandava. Most questions ask which state a dance belongs to, which community performs it, or which feature identifies a classical style. Learn the classical dances with their state and one signature feature each, such as the face make-up of Kathakali or the brass plate of Kuchipudi. For folk dances, group them state by state, since exams often list three or four dances and ask for the common state. Watch for dances shared by more than one state, such as Chhau, which has three styles. Practise the Indian dance forms 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.