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Sattriya is a classical dance from which state?
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Answer: Option A — Assam
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Assam. Sattriya is the classical dance of Assam. It was introduced in the 15th and 16th centuries by Srimanta Sankaradeva, the founder of the neo-Vaishnavite movement in Assam, as part of the Ankiya Nat, the one-act plays that he wrote to spread devotion to Lord Krishna among the people.
Sattriya takes its name from the sattras, the Vaishnavite monasteries of Assam, where the dance was born and preserved. For about five centuries, Sattriya was practised mainly by the male monks (bhakats) of the sattras, as part of their daily rituals and religious festivals, following strict rules of training and performance. In the second half of the 20th century, it moved out of the sattras and onto the public stage, and women began to learn and perform it as well. On 15 November 2000, the Sangeet Natak Akademi recognised Sattriya as a classical dance form, making it the eighth classical dance in its list. Sattriya is accompanied by Borgeet (devotional songs composed by Sankaradeva and Madhavadeva), the khol (a drum), the taal (cymbals) and the flute. Its training is based on a set of basic exercises called Mati Akhora, and its dance types include Chali (graceful), Jhumura (vigorous), Nadu Bhangi and Sutradhari Nritya. Majuli, the largest river island in India, located in the Brahmaputra, is home to many of the most important sattras and is a major centre of Sattriya.
Assam is also known for Bihu, its most popular folk dance, performed during the Bihu festivals; Bagurumba, the butterfly dance of the Bodo community; Jhumur, the dance of the tea garden communities; Deodhani, a dance in honour of the snake goddess Manasa; and Ojapali, a narrative art form.
About the other options:
- West Bengal does not have a classical dance of its own in the Sangeet Natak Akademi's list, but it is known for Purulia Chhau, Gambhira and Rabindra Nritya.
- Manipur's classical dance is Manipuri.
- Tripura is known for folk dances such as Hojagiri and Garia.
💡 Exam tip
Sattriya (Assam) was the last of the eight classical dances to be recognised, in 2000. Link it with Sankaradeva and the sattras of Majuli.💬 Discussions on this question
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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.