SSC
Hojagiri, a dance of the Reang community in which women balance pots and lamps while dancing, belongs to which state?
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Answer: Option A — Tripura
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Tripura. Hojagiri is a folk dance of the Reang (Bru) community of Tripura, one of the largest tribal communities of the state. The source book from which this question comes gives the answer only as "North-East India", but Hojagiri is specifically a dance of Tripura, and this is the answer expected in exams.
Hojagiri is one of the most skilful and spectacular dances of India. It is performed by young women and girls, while the men sing and play the music. The dancers stand on earthen pitchers (kalash) and balance several objects on their heads at the same time: typically a bottle on the head, a lamp or a plate on top of the bottle, and sometimes a pitcher. While doing this, they move only the lower half of their bodies, swaying gently and turning, so that the objects stay perfectly balanced. The dancers may also hold a plate or a dish in their hands. The dance is performed during the Hojagiri festival, which is held in the month of Ashwin (September and October), during the Lakshmi Puja that follows Durga Puja, to honour the goddess Mailuma (the goddess of wealth and the crops). The music is provided by the khamb (drum), the sumui (bamboo flute) and cymbals. Hojagiri has been performed at many national and international events, and it is one of the most recognisable symbols of Tripura's culture.
About the other options:
- Manipur is known for the classical Manipuri dance, Lai Haraoba and Thang-Ta.
- Assam is known for Bihu, Sattriya and Bagurumba.
- Meghalaya is known for Shad Suk Mynsiem, Wangala and Laho.
- None of these states is associated with Hojagiri.
- Other dances of Tripura include Garia, Mamita, Lebang Boomani, Sangrai (Mog community), Bizu (Chakma community) and Hai-Hak (Halam community).
💡 Exam tip
Hojagiri is the most frequently asked dance of Tripura. Remember the link with the Reang community and the balancing of pots, bottles and lamps on the head.💬 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.