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The Gambhira dance, performed using wooden masks, belongs to which state?
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Answer: Option C — West Bengal
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is West Bengal. Gambhira is a folk dance and song form of the Malda district of West Bengal. It is also performed in the neighbouring Rajshahi and Chapai Nawabganj regions of Bangladesh. It is closely linked with the worship of Lord Shiva, and it is performed mainly during the Gajan festival, held in the Bengali months of Chaitra and Baishakh (April and May), around the Bengali new year.
The name Gambhira is believed to come from "Gambhir", one of the names of Lord Shiva. In the Gambhira dance, the performers wear wooden masks, called mukhas, that represent gods, goddesses, demons, animals and characters from mythology, such as Shiva, Kali, Narasimha, Chamunda and Hanuman. They dance with vigorous movements to the beat of drums such as the dhak and the dhol. The masks are carved from wood, such as neem or gamar wood, and painted in bright colours, and the craftsmen of the region, especially in the village of Kushmandi in the Dakshin Dinajpur district, are known for making them. Gambhira also has a song tradition, in which the performers use humour, satire and wit to comment on social and political issues, such as poverty, corruption, injustice and the follies of leaders. In some performances, one performer plays the role of Shiva, and another plays an ordinary person who tells Shiva about the problems of the people, which makes the performance a form of social commentary.
West Bengal has a rich tradition of folk performing arts, including Purulia Chhau, the Baul tradition of mystic singers, Jatra (a popular folk theatre), Alkap (a dance-drama of humour and satire), Brita dance and Dhunuchi Naach.
About the other options:
- Odisha is known for Odissi, Gotipua and Dalkhai.
- Assam is known for Bihu, Sattriya and Bagurumba.
- Bihar is known for Jat-Jatin, Jhijhiya and Bidesia.
- None of these is associated with Gambhira.
💡 Exam tip
Link Gambhira with West Bengal, the Malda district, wooden masks, Lord Shiva and the Gajan festival. Purulia Chhau is the other famous masked dance of West Bengal.💬 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.