SSC
Bolak-aat, a dance of the Kodava men, belongs to which state?
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Answer: Option C — Karnataka
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Karnataka. Bolak-aat is a traditional dance of the Kodava community of Kodagu (Coorg), a hilly district in the southern part of Karnataka. The Kodavas are known for their distinct culture, language (Kodava Takk), dress, martial traditions and festivals.
Bolak-aat is performed by Kodava men, in the open, around an oil lamp (bolak means lamp, and aat means dance). The dancers wear the traditional Kodava dress for men, which includes the kupya, a long black coat with a red and gold sash (chale) tied at the waist, and the peeche kathi, a short, ornamental dagger tucked into the sash. During the dance, they hold chavari (yak-tail whisks) in one hand and the odikathi, the traditional Kodava sword or machete, in the other. They dance in a circle around the lamp, with vigorous, rhythmic movements, to the beat of drums and the music of traditional wind instruments. Bolak-aat is performed at festivals, weddings and community celebrations, especially during the Huttari festival, the harvest festival of the Kodavas, held in November or December, and during Kailpodh, a festival of arms held in September.
The Kodavas also have Ummatt-aat, a dance performed by Kodava women with brass cymbals in honour of the goddess Kaveri, and Kolaata, a stick dance. Kodagu is the source of the river Kaveri, which rises at Talakaveri, and the goddess Kaveri is the presiding deity of the Kodavas. The Kodavas are known for their martial traditions, and Kodagu has produced many famous soldiers, including Field Marshal K. M. Cariappa, the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army, and General K. S. Thimayya.
About the other options:
- Kerala is known for Kathakali, Mohiniyattam and Theyyam.
- Tamil Nadu is known for Bharatanatyam, Karagattam and Kummi.
- Goa is known for Fugdi, Dekhni and Mando.
- None of these is associated with the Kodava community.
💡 Exam tip
Link the Kodava community with Kodagu (Coorg) in Karnataka. Bolak-aat is performed by men around a lamp, and Ummatt-aat is performed by women with cymbals.💬 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.