SSC
The Bhortal dance, performed with large cymbals, is famous in which state?
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Answer: Option A — Assam
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Assam. Bhortal (also spelt Bortal or Bhortal Nritya) is a dance of Assam, especially of the Barpeta region. It is performed with large cymbals, called bhortals or bortals, which the dancers play while dancing.
Bhortal Nritya developed from the neo-Vaishnavite tradition of Assam, which was started by Srimanta Sankaradeva in the 15th and 16th centuries. In the sattras (Vaishnavite monasteries) of Assam, cymbals were used in devotional singing and dancing, and the Bhortal dance grew out of this tradition. In its present form, it was developed and popularised in the 20th century by Narahari Burha Bhakat, a renowned artist of Barpeta, who created a new dance style based on the Sattriya tradition. The dancers, usually a group of men, play the cymbals while performing energetic and acrobatic movements, forming different patterns and formations, to the rhythm of devotional songs and the beat of the khol (drum). The dance is known for its vigour, its precise coordination and the bright sound of the cymbals. Bhortal is performed at festivals, religious occasions and cultural events across Assam.
Assam has a rich variety of dances. Bihu is the most popular folk dance of the state, performed during the Bihu festivals, especially Rongali (Bohag) Bihu in April. Sattriya is the classical dance of the state. Other dances include Bagurumba (of the Bodo community), Jhumur (of the tea garden communities), Deodhani (a dance in honour of the snake goddess Manasa), Ojapali (a narrative art linked with Manasa worship) and Ali-Ai-Ligang dances of the Mising community.
About the other options:
- West Bengal is known for Gambhira, Purulia Chhau and Dhunuchi Naach.
- Odisha is known for Odissi, Gotipua and Dalkhai.
- Tripura is known for Hojagiri, Garia and Mamita.
💡 Exam tip
Bhortal is linked with Assam, cymbals, Barpeta and Narahari Burha Bhakat. Its roots lie in the Vaishnavite tradition of Sankaradeva, like Sattriya.💬 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.