SSC
The Khon, a masked dance-drama depicting the story of Lord Rama, is associated with which country?
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Answer: Option A — Thailand
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Thailand. Khon is a classical masked dance-drama of Thailand, and it is one of the most important performing arts of the country. It is based on the Ramakien, the Thai version of the Indian epic, the Ramayana. In 2018, UNESCO inscribed Khon on its list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Khon developed in the royal courts of Thailand (Siam) several centuries ago and was originally performed only by men, before the royal family and in court ceremonies. The performers wear elaborate costumes made of richly embroidered silk and decorated with jewels, and many of them wear beautifully carved and painted masks that represent the different characters, such as Phra Ram (Rama), Nang Sida (Sita), Hanuman, the monkey warriors, and Thotsakan (Ravana) and his demon army. Because many of the performers wear masks, the story is told through narration and songs by a chorus, while the dancers act out the story through stylised movements and gestures. The music is played by a piphat ensemble of percussion and wind instruments. The Ramakien is so important in Thai culture that scenes from it are painted on the walls of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok.
The Ramayana has spread throughout South and South-East Asia, and many countries have their own versions of it, such as the Hikayat Seri Rama of Malaysia, the Kakawin Ramayana of Indonesia, the Reamker of Cambodia and the Phra Lak Phra Lam of Laos.
About the other options:
- Sri Lanka is known for Kandyan dance, its national dance.
- Nepal is known for masked dances such as the Lakhe and for the Charya Nritya.
- Indonesia has its own Ramayana ballets, especially in Java and Bali, but these are not called Khon.
💡 Exam tip
Link the Khon with Thailand and with the Ramakien (the Thai Ramayana). Other foreign dance forms asked in exams include Kandyan (Sri Lanka) and the Joenpa Legso and Cham dances (Bhutan).💬 Discussions on this question
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Ask a doubtMore Indian Dance Forms Questions
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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.