SSC
Jhumur, a dance of Assam, is performed by which community, especially during autumn?
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Answer: Option B ā Tea garden communities
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Tea garden communities. Jhumur (also spelt Jhumair or Jhumoir) is a folk dance of Assam, performed by the tea garden communities, also called the Adivasi or tea tribes. The source book refers to them as "Kulis", a term that was used in colonial times for tea plantation labourers and is now considered offensive, so the term "tea garden communities" is used here.
In the 19th century, when the British set up tea plantations in Assam, they brought large numbers of workers from the Chota Nagpur region (present-day Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal) and from other parts of central and eastern India to work in the tea gardens. These workers, who belonged to communities such as the Santhal, Munda, Oraon, Kharia and others, brought their languages, songs, dances and festivals with them. Over time, these traditions blended together and with the culture of Assam, and the Jhumur dance became one of the most important cultural expressions of the tea garden communities. The dance is performed especially during the autumn, around the time of festivals such as Karam (Karma) Puja, and at other community celebrations. Young men and women dance together, often holding each other's waists, with rhythmic, swaying steps, while the men play the madal (a drum), the flute and the cymbals. Jhumur songs are usually in Sadri (Nagpuri), the common language of the tea garden communities, and they describe nature, love, work in the tea gardens and the hardships of life.
About the other options:
- The Bodo community is known for Bagurumba, the "butterfly dance".
- The Mising community is known for the Ali-Ai-Ligang festival and its dances.
- The Karbi community is known for the Chomangkan festival.
š” Exam tip
Link Jhumur in Assam with the tea garden communities, whose roots lie in the Chota Nagpur region. Jhumar (Jhumair) in Jharkhand is the same tradition in its home region, with Janani (women's) and Mardana (men's) forms.š¬ Discussions on this question
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Indian Dance Forms ā 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.