SSC
Bhangra, Luddi and Giddha are folk dances of which state?
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Answer: Option B — Punjab
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Punjab. Bhangra, Luddi and Giddha are the most famous folk dances of Punjab, and they are known around the world through the Punjabi diaspora.
Bhangra is a vigorous, joyful dance performed mainly by men. It began as a harvest dance, performed by farmers to celebrate the wheat harvest, especially during the festival of Baisakhi in April. The dancers wear colourful kurtas, lungis (or tehmats) and turbans, and dance with high jumps, kicks, raised arms and shoulder movements to the powerful beat of the dhol (a large drum). Bhangra songs, called boliyan, are short couplets about love, farming, patriotism and social life. Giddha is the traditional dance of Punjabi women. It is performed in a circle, with women clapping and singing boliyan, and taking turns to dance in the centre. It is lively and graceful, and the women often use gestures to act out the words of the songs. Giddha is performed at weddings, at Teeyan (the festival of the monsoon) and at other celebrations. Luddi is a dance of victory and celebration, performed by men, with swaying movements of the head and body, often with one hand behind the back and the other in front of the face.
Other dances of Punjab include Jhumar (a slow, graceful dance of the Sandal Bar region), Malwai Giddha (performed by men of the Malwa region), Sammi, Kikli (a dance of young girls in pairs) and Jaago (performed at weddings).
About the other options:
- Haryana is known for Saang, Phag, Gugga and Khoria.
- Himachal Pradesh is known for Nati, Dangi and Jhali.
- Rajasthan is known for Ghoomar, Kalbelia, Chari and Bhavai.
- None of these is associated with Bhangra, Luddi and Giddha as a group.
💡 Exam tip
Bhangra (men) and Giddha (women) are the most frequently asked dances of Punjab. Remember that Bhangra is linked with Baisakhi and the dhol, and that Giddha is the women's dance.💬 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.