SSC
Hurka Baul, a folk dance performed during the cultivation of maize and paddy, belongs to which state?
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Answer: Option D — Uttarakhand
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Uttarakhand. Hurka Baul (also called Hurkiya Baul) is a traditional folk dance and song form of the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, performed during the cultivation of paddy and maize. It is a work song and dance that helps farmers work together in rhythm and makes the hard labour of planting and weeding in the fields easier.
The name comes from the hurka, a small, hourglass-shaped drum that is played with the hand. A singer, called the hurkiya, plays the hurka and sings stories and songs, while the farmers, mostly women, work in the fields and respond to the songs in chorus. The songs usually tell the stories of local heroes, deities and historical events, and include prayers for a good harvest. The rhythm of the hurka sets the pace of the work, so that the transplanting of the rice seedlings or the weeding of the fields is done in unison. This tradition reflects the community spirit of village life in the hills, where families help each other in the fields.
Uttarakhand has many other folk dances, including Choliya (a sword dance of Kumaon performed at weddings), Langvir Nritya (an acrobatic pole dance of Garhwal), Jhora (a community dance performed in spring), Chancheri, Thadya, Barada Nati and Pandav Nritya (based on the Mahabharata). The Ramman, a religious festival and ritual theatre of the Garhwal region, was inscribed on UNESCO's list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009.
About the other options:
- Himachal Pradesh is known for Nati, Dangi and Jhali.
- Sikkim is known for Chu Faat, Maruni and Tashi Sabdo.
- Jammu and Kashmir is known for Rouf, Kud and Dumhal.
- None of these is associated with Hurka Baul.
💡 Exam tip
Link Hurka Baul with Uttarakhand, the hurka drum and the planting of paddy and maize. Also remember Ramman of Garhwal, which was added to the UNESCO list in 2009.💬 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.