SSC
The Hai-Hak dance, performed by the Halam community, is associated with which state?
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Answer: Option C — Tripura
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Tripura. Hai-Hak is a dance of the Halam community of Tripura. The Halams are one of the 19 Scheduled Tribes of Tripura, and they live mainly in the western and northern districts of the state. They belong to the larger Kuki-Chin group of peoples.
The Hai-Hak dance is linked with the agricultural life of the Halam community, especially with the harvest. It is performed after the harvest, as a celebration and as a way of thanking the deities for a good crop and praying for continued prosperity. The dancers, both men and women, move in graceful, rhythmic steps to the music of traditional instruments such as the khamb (drum), the bamboo flute and cymbals. They wear the colourful traditional dress of the Halam community, and the women wear ornaments made of beads, silver and coins. The dance reflects the community spirit of the Halams and their close relationship with nature and the land.
Tripura has many tribal communities, including the Tripuri, Reang, Jamatia, Noatia, Chakma, Halam, Mog, Kuki, Lushai, Garo and Uchai, and each has its own dances and festivals. The most famous dances of Tripura include Hojagiri (performed by Reang women who balance pots, bottles and lamps), Garia (performed during the Garia Puja in April), Mamita (a harvest dance), Lebang Boomani (a harvest dance named after an insect), Sangrai (a dance of the Mog community at the new year), Bizu (a dance of the Chakma community at the new year) and Hai-Hak.
About the other options:
- Mizoram is known for Cheraw, Khuallam and Chheih Lam.
- Manipur is known for the classical Manipuri dance, Lai Haraoba and Thang-Ta.
- Meghalaya is known for Shad Suk Mynsiem, Wangala and Laho.
- None of these states is associated with the Hai-Hak dance.
💡 Exam tip
Tripura's dances are often asked with the name of the community. Remember the Reang with Hojagiri, the Halam with Hai-Hak, the Mog with Sangrai and the Chakma with Bizu.💬 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.