SSC
Kandyan is a traditional dance form of which country?
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Answer: Option D — Sri Lanka
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Sri Lanka. Kandyan dance takes its name from Kandy, the hill city in central Sri Lanka that was the capital of the last Sinhala kingdom until it fell to the British in 1815. Kandyan dance is considered the national dance of Sri Lanka and is one of the three main styles of Sri Lankan classical dance, together with the Low Country (Pahatharata) style and the Sabaragamuwa style.
Kandyan dance developed from an ancient ritual called the Kohomba Kankariya, which was performed to bring blessings and to cure illness. It is known for its energetic movements, acrobatic leaps and spins, and graceful hand and body gestures. The most striking feature is the costume of the male dancers, called the ves, which includes an elaborate silver headdress, breastplates, armlets and anklets. In the past, wearing the ves costume was considered sacred, and only trained male dancers could wear it after a special ceremony. The dance is performed to the beat of the geta bera, a double-headed drum. Kandyan dancers form an important part of the Esala Perahera, the grand annual procession in Kandy that honours the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha.
About the other options:
- Nepal is known for dances such as the Lakhe (masked dance) and the Charya Nritya (Buddhist ritual dance).
- Bhutan is known for its Cham mask dances performed at Tshechu festivals in its monasteries.
- Thailand is known for the Khon, a masked dance-drama based on the Ramakien, the Thai version of the Ramayana.
💡 Exam tip
Dance forms of neighbouring countries appear in SSC exams. Remember the pairs: Kandyan with Sri Lanka, Khon with Thailand, Cham with Bhutan (and with Sikkim and Ladakh in India), and the Joenpa Legso welcome dance with Bhutan.💬 Discussions on this question
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Ask a doubtMore Indian Dance Forms Questions
View all ›- Q1.The techniques of Rasa and Bhava used in Indian classical dance trace their origin to which ancient text?
- Q2.Lavani, Powada, Koli, Waghya Murali and Dhangari Gaja are folk dances of which state?
- Q3.The one-act play associated with the Sattriya tradition of Assam is called:
- Q4.Which dance form of Goa is known as the 'Warrior Dance'?
- Q5.Manipuri dance is based on the Rasleela themes of:
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.