Railway
The Mathuri folk dance is practised in which state?
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Answer: Option C — Telangana
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Telangana. Mathuri is a folk dance of the Mathura (Mathuri) community, a tribal community that lives mainly in the Adilabad district of northern Telangana, near the border with Maharashtra. The Mathuras are believed to have migrated to this region from northern India, possibly from the Mathura region, long ago, and they have kept many of their customs, including the worship of Lord Krishna.
The Mathuri dance is performed mainly during the month of Shravan (July and August), during the monsoon season, and on religious festivals, such as Krishna Janmashtami. It is performed by both men and women, who dance in a circle around a central point, with rhythmic steps and clapping, while singing devotional songs about Lord Krishna and Radha. The songs are in a dialect that is different from Telugu, the main language of the region, which reflects the community's northern origins. The women wear colourful traditional costumes and silver ornaments, and the men wear dhotis and turbans. The dance is accompanied by the beat of drums and other traditional instruments.
Telangana became India's 29th state on 2 June 2014, after it was separated from Andhra Pradesh. Its tribal communities, such as the Gonds, Kolams, Koyas, Lambadas (Banjaras), Chenchus and Mathuras, each have their own dances and festivals. Important performing arts of the state include the Gussadi dance of the Raj Gonds (performed during the Dandari festival), the Lambadi dance of the Banjaras, Perini Shivatandavam (a warrior dance revived from the time of the Kakatiya dynasty), the Bathukamma festival (celebrated by women with flower arrangements), the Bonalu festival and Oggu Katha (a form of storytelling).
About the other options:
- Kerala is known for Kathakali, Mohiniyattam and Theyyam.
- Punjab is known for Bhangra, Giddha and Luddi.
- Assam is known for Bihu, Sattriya and Bagurumba.
- None of these is associated with the Mathuri dance.
💡 Exam tip
Telangana's dances are increasingly asked in exams. Remember Mathuri (Mathura community, Adilabad, dedicated to Krishna), Gussadi (Raj Gonds), Lambadi (Banjaras) and Perini Shivatandavam (Kakatiya warrior dance).💬 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.