Nupa (Nupa Pala), a dance performed by men with cymbals, is associated with which state?

The correct answer is Manipur. Nupa Pala, also known as the Kartal Cholom, is a dance and singing tradition of Manipur performed by men. "Nupa" means man, and "pala" refers to a group of singers and performers. In Nupa Pala, a group of male performers play large cymbals (kartal) while singing and dancing.

Nupa Pala is a part of the Sankirtana tradition of Manipur, a form of devotional singing, drumming and dancing that is performed in temples and homes on religious and social occasions, such as births, marriages, the first rice-eating ceremony of a child and funerals. The performers, dressed in white dhotis and white turbans, stand in a circle and sing devotional songs in praise of Krishna, while playing the cymbals and dancing in rhythmic patterns. Their movements range from gentle swaying to energetic leaps and turns, and they show great coordination between singing, playing and dancing. The Sankirtana of Manipur was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2013. Another important part of the Sankirtana tradition is the Pung Cholom, in which the performers play the pung (a barrel-shaped drum) while dancing. A women's version of the cymbal dance, called the Nupi Pala, is also performed.

About the other options:

• Assam has a cymbal dance called Bhortal, linked with the Vaishnavite tradition of Barpeta, but it is not called Nupa Pala.
• Tripura is known for Hojagiri, Garia and Mamita.
• Nagaland is known for Chang Lo, Zeliang and Changai.

Manipur's performing arts include the classical Manipuri dance (with its Ras Leela, Jagoi and Cholom), Lai Haraoba (the earliest form of dance in Manipur), Thang-Ta (the martial art), Thabal Chongba (the moonlight dance of Yaoshang) and the Sankirtana tradition.