SSC
Mudiyettu, a ritual dance-drama of Kerala, is based on the mythological tale of a battle between:
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)View answer ▾Hide ▴
Answer: Option B — Goddess Kali and the demon Darika
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Goddess Kali and the demon Darika. Mudiyettu is a ritual dance-drama of Kerala that tells the story of the battle between the goddess Bhadrakali (a fierce form of Kali) and the demon Darika. It is performed in Bhagavati temples (kavus) in the villages along the Chalakudy, Periyar and Moovattupuzha rivers in central Kerala, usually after the summer harvest.
According to the legend, Darika received a boon from Lord Brahma that he could not be killed by any man. Proud of his power, he began to torment the gods and the people of the earth. Since he had not asked for protection from women, Lord Shiva created Bhadrakali from his third eye to destroy him. After a fierce battle, Kali killed Darika, which symbolises the victory of good over evil. In Mudiyettu, the story is acted out by performers playing Kali, Darika, Shiva, Narada, Danavendra and other characters. The performance begins with the drawing of a huge image of Kali on the floor of the temple, called the kalam, using coloured powders. The performers wear elaborate headdresses (mudi), make-up and costumes, and they dance to the beat of drums such as the chenda. The whole village takes part in preparing for the event, and each community has its own role. UNESCO inscribed Mudiyettu on its list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010.
About the other options:
- Goddess Durga and the demon Mahishasura are the subject of the Durga Puja and Navratri traditions, and of Dandiya Raas, which represents a mock fight between them.
- Lord Rama and Ravana are the subject of the Ramayana and Ramlila.
- Lord Krishna and Kamsa are the subject of stories from the Bhagavata Purana and of dances such as Raut Nacha of Chhattisgarh.
💡 Exam tip
Link Mudiyettu with Kerala, Kali versus Darika, the kalam drawing and UNESCO 2010. Padayani of Kerala is also linked with the same legend, showing the attempt to calm Kali after the battle.💬 Discussions on this question
Ask a doubt ›Still stuck on this question? Ask our faculty and fellow students — answers appear here.
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.