According to tradition, the Ghoomar dance was developed by the Bhil tribe to worship which goddess?

The correct answer is Goddess Saraswati. According to the commonly accepted tradition, which also appears in exam questions, the Ghoomar dance was developed by the Bhil tribe of Rajasthan as a form of worship of the goddess Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, music, art and wisdom. Later, the dance was adopted by the Rajput royal families and other communities of Rajasthan, and it became one of the best-known folk dances of the state.

Ghoomar is performed by women, and its name comes from "ghoomna", which means to spin or twirl. The dancers move in a circle, spinning gracefully so that their long, flowing skirts (ghagras) flare out in wide circles of colour. The ghagras are made of many metres of cloth and are often decorated with mirrors, embroidery and gota (gold or silver lace). The dancers also wear a choli (blouse) and an odhni (veil), which often covers the face. They clap their hands, sway their bodies and move their hands in graceful patterns, to the music of traditional songs and instruments such as the dhol, the nagara and the shehnai. Ghoomar is performed on happy and auspicious occasions, such as weddings, festivals like Teej, Holi and Gangaur, and the arrival of a new bride in her husband's home.

Saraswati is usually shown seated on a white lotus or riding a swan (hamsa), holding a veena, a book and a rosary. She is worshipped especially on Vasant Panchami, the spring festival, when students and artists seek her blessings.

About the other options:

• Goddess Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth and prosperity.
• Goddess Durga is the warrior goddess worshipped during Navratri, linked with Garba and Dandiya Raas.
• Goddess Parvati is the wife of Shiva, linked with the lasya style of dance and with the Gangaur festival of Rajasthan.