SSC
Kalbelia, also known as the snake charmer dance, is a famous folk dance of which state?
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Answer: Option A — Rajasthan
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Rajasthan. Kalbelia is the dance of the Kalbelia community of Rajasthan, who were traditionally snake catchers and snake charmers. Because of this, the dance is also known as the Sapera dance or the snake charmer dance. The movements of the dancers imitate the swaying and coiling of a snake.
The Kalbelia dance is performed by women dressed in flowing black skirts (ghagras) embroidered with colourful threads, small mirrors and silver work. They spin, bend and sway with remarkable flexibility, sometimes bending backwards to pick up objects such as rings with their mouths or eyelids. The men provide the music, playing the pungi (the gourd wind instrument used by snake charmers), the dholak, the daf, the khanjari and the morchang. The songs are passed down orally and are often composed on the spot. In 2010, UNESCO inscribed the "Kalbelia folk songs and dances of Rajasthan" on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Gulabo Sapera, the most famous Kalbelia dancer, received the Padma Shri in 2016 and is credited with taking the dance to international audiences.
About the other options:
- Gujarat is known for Garba, Dandiya Raas, Tippani and Siddi Dhamal.
- Haryana is known for Saang, Ghoomar (in its Haryanvi form), Phag, Gugga and Khoria.
- Madhya Pradesh is known for Matki, Grida, Rai, Jawara and Bhagoriya.
- None of these states is associated with the Kalbelia community.
💡 Exam tip
Kalbelia is one of the most frequently asked folk dances of Rajasthan. Remember the related facts: it is also called the Sapera (snake charmer) dance, it was added to the UNESCO list in 2010, and Gulabo Sapera is its best-known performer. Other famous Rajasthani dances include Ghoomar, Chari, Bhavai, Kachchhi Ghodi, Gair and Terah Taali.💬 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.