SSC
Ratvai is a dance form associated with which community?
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Answer: Option A — Mewati community
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Mewati community. Ratvai is a folk dance of the Mewati (Meo) community of the Mewat region. Mewat is a historical and cultural region that lies across parts of southern Haryana (especially the Nuh district), north-eastern Rajasthan (around Alwar and Bharatpur) and western Uttar Pradesh.
Ratvai is performed by Mewati women, especially during the rainy season and on festive occasions, such as weddings. The women dance in a group, with graceful, rhythmic steps, while singing folk songs. The dancers often wear colourful traditional dresses, heavy silver jewellery and anklets that add to the rhythm of the dance. The songs describe the beauty of the monsoon, love, family life and the customs of the community. The Meo community has a rich oral tradition of songs, ballads and stories, often sung by Mirasi musicians, and many of these, such as the ballads based on the Mahabharata (called the Pandun ka Kara) and on local heroes, mix elements of Hindu and Muslim culture. This shared culture is one of the most distinctive features of the Mewat region.
The Mewat region has a long history. It was ruled by the Khanzada dynasty in the medieval period, and its people were known for their resistance to the Delhi Sultanate and later to the Mughals. Today, the Nuh district of Haryana (formerly called Mewat district) is one of the most important centres of Meo culture.
About the other options:
- The Bhil community is linked with dances such as Ghoomar, Gair and Bhagoriya.
- The Gond community is linked with dances such as Karma and the Gussadi of Telangana.
- The Santhal community is linked with the dances of Jharkhand, West Bengal and Odisha, and with festivals such as Sohrai and Baha.
- None of these performs the Ratvai.
💡 Exam tip
Ratvai is one of the less common dances asked in SSC exams. Link it with the Mewati (Meo) community and the Mewat region of Haryana and Rajasthan.💬 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.