SSC
Jhijhiya, a folk dance performed by women to please Indra, the god of rain, for good rainfall and crops, belongs to which state?
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Answer: Option C — Bihar
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Bihar. Jhijhiya is a folk dance of the Mithila region of Bihar, performed by women. It is closely linked to the agricultural life of the region, where a good monsoon is essential for the crops.
In times of drought, or when the rains are delayed, women perform Jhijhiya to please Indra, the king of the gods and the god of rain, and to pray for good rainfall and a rich harvest. The dance is also commonly performed during the festival of Dussehra (in the Navratri period). In the dance, the women balance earthen pots with many holes, with a lit lamp inside, on their heads. The light shines through the holes in the pot, creating a beautiful pattern in the dark. The dancers move in a circle, singing devotional songs, and the lead singer is accompanied by the others in chorus. According to folk belief, the dance and the lamps also help protect the village from evil spirits and witchcraft. Mithila, the region in which Jhijhiya is performed, is also famous for Madhubani painting and for the poet Vidyapati.
About the other options:
- Uttar Pradesh is known for Kathak, Charkula, Kajari and Raslila.
- Jharkhand is known for Chhau (Seraikela style), Paika, Jhumair and Karma.
- West Bengal is known for Purulia Chhau, Gambhira, Dhunuchi Naach and Brita dance.
- None of these states is associated with Jhijhiya.
Other folk dances of Bihar that appear in exams include Jat-Jatin, which tells the story of a married couple separated by circumstances; Bidesia, a form of folk theatre created by Bhikhari Thakur; Kajari, sung during the monsoon; and Jharni, performed during Muharram.
💡 Exam tip
Link Jhijhiya with Bihar, the Mithila region, women, lamps in perforated pots and prayers to Indra for rain. Questions may also mention that it is performed around Dussehra.💬 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.