SSC
Lava, a popular folk dance, is performed on which island?
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Answer: Option D — Minicoy Island
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Minicoy Island. Lava is a folk dance of Minicoy (also called Maliku), the southernmost island of the Union Territory of Lakshadweep, in the Arabian Sea. Minicoy is closer to the Maldives than to the rest of Lakshadweep, and its people speak Mahl, a dialect of Dhivehi, the language of the Maldives. This gives Minicoy a culture that is distinct from that of the other islands of Lakshadweep, where Malayalam (in the Jeseri dialect) is mainly spoken.
The Lava dance is performed by men during festive occasions, such as Eid and weddings, and at other celebrations. The dancers wear colourful costumes and headgear and dance in a group, moving in lively, rhythmic steps to the beat of drums and the singing of traditional songs. The dance is energetic and joyful, and it reflects the strong community spirit of the islanders. Minicoy is also known for its tall lighthouse, built by the British in 1885, its tuna fishing industry, its traditional boat races and its distinctive village life, with villages (called athiris) that are organised under a headman.
Lakshadweep, India's smallest Union Territory, is made up of 36 islands, of which about 10 are inhabited. Its capital is Kavaratti. Other folk dances of Lakshadweep include Kolkali (a stick dance), Parichakali (a dance with swords and shields) and Oppana (a dance performed at weddings). These dances show the influence of the culture of Kerala's Malabar coast, from where many of the islanders' ancestors came.
About the other options:
- Majuli is a river island in the Brahmaputra in Assam, the largest river island in India, known for its sattras and Sattriya dance.
- Rameswaram is an island in Tamil Nadu, known for the Ramanathaswamy temple and the Pamban bridge.
- Diu is an island off the coast of Gujarat, which is part of the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
💡 Exam tip
Link the Lava dance with Minicoy Island in Lakshadweep. Kolkali and Parichakali are the other frequently asked dances of Lakshadweep.💬 Discussions on this question
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Ask a doubtMore Indian Dance Forms Questions
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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.