SSC
Charkula, a dance in which women balance a large wheel with lit lamps on their heads, is associated with which state?
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Answer: Option B — Uttar Pradesh
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Uttar Pradesh. Charkula is a folk dance of the Braj region of Uttar Pradesh, around Mathura, Vrindavan and Barsana. It is performed by women, who balance a large, multi-tiered wooden or metal structure with many lit oil lamps (diyas) on their heads while dancing.
The charkula is a heavy circular pyramid, usually with several tiers, which can hold as many as 108 lamps. The dancer balances it on her head, which requires great skill, strength and balance, and moves gracefully in circles, turning and swaying to the rhythm of the music. The dance is accompanied by the rasiya songs of the Braj region, which are about the love of Radha and Krishna, and by instruments such as the dholak, the nagara and the harmonium. According to tradition, the dance began to celebrate the birth of Radha. When Radha was born in Barsana, her grandmother is said to have rushed out of the house with a charkula (a cartwheel) covered with lamps on her head to announce the good news. Because of this, Charkula is performed especially on the third day after Holi, and on Radhashtami, the festival of Radha's birth. It is also performed at other festivals and social events in the Braj region.
Uttar Pradesh is also known for Kathak, its classical dance; Raslila, the dance-drama of the life of Krishna in Braj; Ramlila; Nautanki, a popular folk theatre; Kajari, sung in the monsoon; and Jhoola, the swinging dance of the month of Sawan.
About the other options:
- Rajasthan has a similar dance called Chari, in which women balance brass pots with lit lamps on their heads, but Charkula belongs to the Braj region of Uttar Pradesh.
- Haryana is known for Saang, Phag, Gugga and Khoria.
- Madhya Pradesh is known for Matki, Grida, Rai and Jawara.
💡 Exam tip
Charkula (Uttar Pradesh, a wheel of lamps) and Chari (Rajasthan, brass pots with lamps) are easy to confuse. Remember that Charkula is linked with the Braj region and the birth of Radha.💬 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.