SSC
Mundari, the dance of the Munda tribe, is associated with which state?
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Answer: Option B — Jharkhand
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Jharkhand. The Mundari dance is the traditional dance of the Munda tribe, one of the major tribal communities of Jharkhand. The Mundas live mainly in the Ranchi, Khunti, Gumla and West Singhbhum districts of the state and speak Mundari, an Austroasiatic language. They are also found in Odisha, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh, but the Mundari dance is most closely identified with Jharkhand.
Mundari dances are performed at festivals linked to the agricultural year, such as Sarhul (the spring festival when the sal trees blossom), Karam (a festival honouring the karam tree) and Sohrai (a harvest festival connected with cattle). Men and women usually dance together, holding hands or linking arms, and move in lines or circles to the beat of drums such as the mandar and the nagara. The songs describe nature, farming, love and the history of the community. Birsa Munda, the most famous freedom fighter of the Munda tribe, led the Ulgulan (Great Tumult) against British rule and exploitation in 1899-1900. Jharkhand was formed on 15 November 2000, which is also his birth anniversary, and the day is celebrated as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas.
About the other options:
- Odisha is known for Odissi, Gotipua, Dalkhai, Sambalpuri dances and the Mayurbhanj Chhau.
- Bihar is known for Jat-Jatin, Jhijhiya, Bidesia and Kajari.
- Chhattisgarh is known for Panthi, Raut Nacha, Saila, Suwa and Gaur Maria.
💡 Exam tip
Jharkhand's dances and tribes are frequently asked together. Link the Munda tribe with the Mundari and Paika dances, the Oraon tribe with the Sarhul festival, the Santhal tribe with the largest tribal population of the state, and Seraikela with the Chhau dance.💬 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.