SSC
Kud, a folk dance performed at night in honour of local deities, is associated with which region?
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Answer: Option B — Jammu and Kashmir
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Jammu and Kashmir. Kud is a ritual folk dance of the Jammu region, performed mainly in the hilly areas of the Udhampur, Reasi, Ramban and Kathua districts. It is performed at night in honour of the Lok Devtas, the local folk deities, and is usually held during the rainy season or after a good harvest as an offering of thanks.
Kud is a community dance in which people of all ages take part. The dancers move in a circle around a fire, with rhythmic, swaying steps, accompanied by the beat of the narsingha (a type of horn), the chhaina (cymbals), the flute and the drum. The dance gradually becomes faster and more vigorous as the night goes on. Kud is known for its energy and its flexibility. There are no fixed steps, and people join and leave the dance freely. It is considered a way of expressing gratitude to the deities for protecting the village, the crops and the cattle.
Jammu and Kashmir has a diverse tradition of folk performing arts. Rouf (also spelt Rauf) is a women's folk dance of the Kashmir valley, performed in rows during Eid and the harvest. Dumhal is a dance of the Wattal community, performed by men wearing long colourful robes and tall conical caps. Bhand Pather is a traditional theatre form of Kashmir that combines satire, music and acting. Hikat is a dance performed by young boys and girls in pairs.
About the other options:
- Himachal Pradesh is known for Nati, Dangi, Jhali and Ghurehi.
- Uttarakhand is known for Choliya, Jhora, Hurka Baul and Langvir Nritya.
- Punjab is known for Bhangra, Giddha, Luddi and Jhumar.
- None of these is associated with Kud.
💡 Exam tip
Learn the dances of Jammu and Kashmir as a group: Kud (Jammu region), and Rouf, Dumhal, Hikat and Bhand Pather (Kashmir valley). Since 2019, Jammu and Kashmir has been a Union Territory, separate from Ladakh.💬 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.