SSC · Police
Ghoomar is a folk dance of which state?
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)View answer ▾Hide ▴
Answer: Option A — Rajasthan
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Rajasthan. Ghoomar is one of the best-known folk dances of Rajasthan. It is performed by women, and its name comes from "ghoomna", which means to spin or twirl, because the dancers spin in circles so that their long, flowing skirts flare out around them in a beautiful display of colour.
Ghoomar is believed to have originated with the Bhil tribe, who performed it to worship the goddess Saraswati. Later, it was adopted by the Rajput royal families and other communities of Rajasthan, and it became a dance performed on auspicious occasions, such as weddings, festivals like Teej and Holi, and the arrival of a new bride in her husband's home. The dancers wear the ghaghra, a long, wide skirt with many pleats, often decorated with mirrors and embroidery, along with a choli (blouse) and an odhni (veil) that often covers the face. They move gracefully in a circle, spinning, clapping and swaying their hands, to the music of traditional songs and instruments such as the dhol and the shehnai. The number of pleats and the swirl of the skirt are an important part of the beauty of the dance. Ghoomar became famous across India through the Hindi film "Padmaavat" (2018).
Rajasthan has many other famous folk dances, including Kalbelia (the snake charmer dance), Chari (with brass pots and lit lamps), Bhavai (balancing a stack of pots), Gair (a stick dance of the Bhils), Kachchhi Ghodi (a dummy horse dance), Terah Taali (performed with cymbals tied to the body), Agni (the fire dance of the Jasnathi sect) and Gavari (a dance-drama of the Bhils).
About the other options:
- Gujarat is known for Garba, Dandiya Raas and Tippani.
- Punjab is known for Bhangra, Giddha and Luddi.
- Maharashtra is known for Lavani, Koli and Tamasha.
💡 Exam tip
Ghoomar is linked with Rajasthan, spinning, the Bhil tribe and the goddess Saraswati. Haryana also has a dance called Ghoomar, so if Rajasthan is not in the options, consider Haryana.💬 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.