SSC
Dalkhai, a folk dance performed by women during Dussehra, belongs to which state?
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Answer: Option B — Odisha
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Odisha. Dalkhai is one of the most popular folk dances of western Odisha, especially of the Sambalpur, Bargarh, Balangir and Sundargarh districts. It is performed mainly by young women of tribal and rural communities, such as the Binjhal, Kuda, Mirdha, Kondh and Sora, during the festival of Dussehra.
The dance is performed in honour of the goddess Dalkhai, a local form of the goddess Durga. During the Dussehra festival, the women keep a fast and worship the goddess, and they perform the Dalkhai dance on Durgashtami, the eighth day of Navratri. The dancers wear colourful Sambalpuri sarees, with the ends draped over their shoulders, and traditional ornaments. They stand in a line or a semicircle, with their feet close together and their knees slightly bent, and they dance with graceful, rhythmic movements. The men play the music, which is provided by a rich ensemble of folk instruments, such as the dhol, the nisan (a large drum), the tamki (a small drum), the tasa and the mahuri (a wind instrument). Each Dalkhai song begins with the word "Dalkhai bo", an address to a friend, and the songs describe stories from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, the love of Radha and Krishna, nature and everyday life.
Western Odisha has a distinct cultural identity, with its own Sambalpuri (Kosli) language, music and dances. Other folk dances of the region include Rasarkeli, Jaiphula, Maila Jada, Bayamana and Ghumura (of Kalahandi). The popular folk song Rangabati also comes from western Odisha.
About the other options:
- Bihar is known for Jat-Jatin, Jhijhiya and Bidesia.
- Jharkhand is known for Chhau of Seraikela, Paika and Jhumar.
- Assam is known for Bihu, Sattriya and Bagurumba.
- None of these is associated with Dalkhai.
💡 Exam tip
Dalkhai is the most frequently asked folk dance of western Odisha. Link it with women, Dussehra, the goddess Dalkhai and the Sambalpur region.💬 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.