SSC
Padayani, a ritual folk dance performed at Bhadrakali temples, belongs to which state?
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Answer: Option C — Kerala
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Kerala. Padayani (also called Padeni) is a ritual folk art of central Kerala, performed mainly in the temples dedicated to the goddess Bhadrakali in the Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha and Kottayam districts. It is held in the months of January to May, and the performances take place at night.
Padayani is linked to the myth of the goddess Kali. According to the legend, after killing the demon Darika, Kali was still filled with rage, and the gods and Lord Shiva's followers performed dances and wore masks to calm her. Padayani recreates this attempt to soothe the goddess. The most striking feature of Padayani is the kolam, a huge, colourful mask or headgear made from the sheaths of the areca nut palm and decorated with natural colours. Performers wearing different kolams represent various gods, spirits and figures, such as Bhairavi, Kalan (the god of death), Yakshi and Pakshi (bird). The dance is accompanied by drums such as the thappu and chenda, and by songs. The whole village takes part in preparing for and staging the performance.
About the other options:
- Tamil Nadu is known for Bharatanatyam, Karagattam, Kummi and Therukoothu.
- Karnataka has a similar spirit-worship tradition called Bhoota Kola, but Padayani belongs to Kerala.
- Goa is known for Fugdi, Dekhni, Mando and Ghode Modni.
- None of these states is associated with Padayani.
Kerala has several ritual arts linked to the goddess Bhadrakali, and they are easy to confuse. Mudiyettu (central Kerala) depicts Kali's battle with Darika. Padayani (central Travancore) depicts the attempt to calm Kali after the battle. Theyyam (northern Malabar) is a spirit and deity worship ritual in which the performer is believed to become the deity.
💡 Exam tip
If a question mentions Bhadrakali temples and large masks made of areca palm sheaths, the answer is Padayani of Kerala.💬 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.