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The 'Deodhani' dance of Assam is associated with which deity?
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Answer: Option D — Snake goddess Manasa
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Snake goddess Manasa. Deodhani is a ritual dance of Assam, performed in honour of Manasa, the goddess of snakes, who is worshipped across eastern India, especially in Assam, West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand, to protect people from snakebites and to bring fertility and prosperity.
The Deodhani dance is performed during the Manasa Puja (also called the Mare Puja), which is held in August, during the monsoon season, when the danger of snakebites is greatest. It is especially popular in the Darrang and Kamrup districts and other areas of lower Assam. The dance is performed by a woman (or sometimes a man), called the Deodhani, who is believed to be possessed by the goddess. With her hair loose, and holding a sword and a shield, she dances in a trance, to the beat of drums such as the dhol and the cymbals, and to the songs of the Ojapali singers. The dance is vigorous and dramatic, and it is believed that during the dance, the goddess speaks through the Deodhani and gives blessings and predictions to the devotees. The dance tells the story of Manasa and of Behula, a devoted wife who brought her husband Lakhindar back to life after he was killed by a snakebite, through her courage and devotion.
Ojapali is a related art form of Assam, in which a group of singers (palis), led by a chief singer (oja), sing and act out stories, especially the stories of Manasa, using gestures, dance and music. Assam's other performing arts include Bihu, Sattriya, Bagurumba, Jhumur and Bhortal.
About the other options:
- Goddess Kamakhya is worshipped at the famous Kamakhya temple in Guwahati, one of the most important Shakti peethas, but Deodhani is linked with Manasa.
- Lord Shiva and Lord Krishna are worshipped in many dances of Assam, such as Sattriya (Krishna), but not in Deodhani.
💡 Exam tip
Link Deodhani with Assam, the snake goddess Manasa, the monsoon season and the trance dance. Ojapali is the related narrative tradition.💬 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.