SSC
Gatka, a traditional martial art and fighting style of the Nihang Sikh warriors, originated in which state?
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)View answer ▾Hide ▴
Answer: Option A — Punjab
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Punjab. Gatka is a traditional martial art of Punjab, associated with the Sikhs, and especially with the Nihang Sikhs, an armed order of Sikh warriors known for their blue robes, tall turbans and traditional weapons. Gatka is practised as a form of self-defence, as a spiritual discipline and as a display of skill at religious festivals.
Gatka developed in the time of the Sikh Gurus, especially from the 17th century, when Guru Hargobind, the sixth Guru, introduced the idea of miri and piri (temporal and spiritual authority) and encouraged the Sikhs to train in arms to defend themselves and their faith. Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru, who founded the Khalsa in 1699, further strengthened this martial tradition. In Gatka, the practitioners use wooden sticks (also called gatka), swords, shields, spears and other traditional weapons, and they perform complex movements of attack and defence, often in pairs or groups. The movements are rhythmic and graceful, and they are performed to the beat of drums, which gives Gatka the appearance of a dance. Gatka is performed especially during religious processions (nagar kirtans), at the festival of Hola Mohalla at Anandpur Sahib, which is held the day after Holi, and at Gurpurabs (birth anniversaries of the Gurus). Today, Gatka is also practised as a competitive sport.
About the other options:
- Haryana is known for Saang, Phag, Gugga and Khoria.
- Rajasthan is known for Ghoomar, Kalbelia, Chari and Bhavai.
- Himachal Pradesh is known for Nati, Dangi and Jhali.
- None of these is the origin of Gatka.
- India has many traditional martial arts, including Kalaripayattu (Kerala), Thang-Ta (Manipur), Silambam (Tamil Nadu), Mardani Khel (Maharashtra), Pari-Khanda (Bihar) and Paika Akhada (Odisha).
💡 Exam tip
Link Gatka with Punjab, the Sikhs, the Nihangs and the festival of Hola Mohalla at Anandpur Sahib. Questions on the martial arts of India often ask which state each one belongs to.💬 Discussions on this question
Ask a doubt ›Still stuck on this question? Ask our faculty and fellow students — answers appear here.
Ask a doubtMore Indian Dance Forms Questions
View all ›- Q1.The techniques of Rasa and Bhava used in Indian classical dance trace their origin to which ancient text?
- Q2.Lavani, Powada, Koli, Waghya Murali and Dhangari Gaja are folk dances of which state?
- Q3.The one-act play associated with the Sattriya tradition of Assam is called:
- Q4.Which dance form of Goa is known as the 'Warrior Dance'?
- Q5.Manipuri dance is based on the Rasleela themes of:
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.