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The Bhagoriya dance is performed by the Bhils in which state?
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Answer: Option C — Madhya Pradesh
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Madhya Pradesh. Bhagoriya is a dance of the Bhil and Bhilala tribes of the western part of Madhya Pradesh, especially the Jhabua, Alirajpur, Dhar, Khargone and Barwani districts. It is performed during the Bhagoria Haat festival, a colourful week-long festival held just before Holi, in the month of Phalgun (February and March).
The Bhagoria festival is held at the weekly markets (haats) of the region, after the harvest of the rabi (winter) crops, when the farmers have money and time to celebrate. Thousands of people from the surrounding villages gather at the haats to buy and sell goods, meet friends and relatives, and celebrate with music and dance. The Bhagoriya dance is performed by groups of young men and women, dressed in bright, colourful clothes and silver jewellery. The men play large drums (mandal) and the flute, and the dancers move in rhythmic, energetic steps, forming circles and lines. According to tradition, the festival was also an occasion for young men and women to choose their life partners. A young man would apply gulal (coloured powder) to the face of the girl he liked, and if she accepted, she would apply gulal to his face in return. The festival has become a major tourist attraction, and it shows the rich culture of the Bhil community.
The Bhils are one of the largest tribal communities of India, living mainly in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra. Their other dances include Ghoomar (believed to have originated with the Bhils), Gair and the Gavari dance-drama of Rajasthan.
About the other options:
Kerala, Assam and Punjab are not home to the Bhil tribe or the Bhagoria festival.
💡 Exam tip
Link Bhagoriya with the Bhil tribe, the Jhabua and Alirajpur districts of Madhya Pradesh, and the Bhagoria Haat festival held before Holi.💬 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.