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'Alkap', a traditional dance-drama, is found in Jharkhand and which other state?
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Answer: Option A — West Bengal
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is West Bengal. Alkap is a traditional folk dance-drama found in the Rajmahal hills region of Jharkhand and in the Murshidabad and Malda districts of West Bengal. It is a popular form of rural entertainment that combines dance, music, acting, poetry and comedy.
An Alkap performance is given by a troupe of about 10 to 12 performers, led by a master called the sarkar or the guru, who is often also the main singer and writer. The troupe includes one or two young boys, called chhokras, who play the female roles and perform dances. A typical performance begins with a song of invocation, followed by songs, dances and short comic plays called kaps. The kaps are often based on stories from the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Puranas, and on scenes from everyday life, and they are full of humour, satire and witty dialogue. Through these plays, the performers comment on social problems, such as poverty, injustice, corruption and the hardships of rural life. Alkap is usually performed during the Gajan festival, in honour of Lord Shiva, which is held in the months of Chaitra and Baisakh (April and May). It is accompanied by instruments such as the dhol, the harmonium, the flute and cymbals. The Alkap tradition is closely linked with the Gambhira tradition of the Malda region, which also uses humour and satire to comment on society.
West Bengal has a rich tradition of folk performing arts, including Jatra (a popular folk theatre), Gambhira (a masked dance of Malda), Purulia Chhau, the Baul tradition of mystic singers, Brita dance and Dhunuchi Naach.
About the other options:
- Odisha is known for Odissi, Gotipua, Dalkhai and its own Jatra tradition.
- Bihar is known for Jat-Jatin, Jhijhiya and Bidesia.
- Assam is known for Bihu, Sattriya and Bagurumba.
- None of these is the home of Alkap.
💡 Exam tip
Link Alkap with the Rajmahal hills of Jharkhand and the Murshidabad and Malda districts of West Bengal. It is a dance-drama of humour and satire, performed during the Gajan festival.💬 Discussions on this question
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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.