SSC
The Raigarh Gharana is associated with which classical dance?
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Answer: Option A — Kathak
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Kathak. The Raigarh gharana is one of the four main gharanas (schools or styles) of Kathak, along with the Lucknow, Jaipur and Banaras gharanas. It developed in the princely state of Raigarh, in present-day Chhattisgarh, in the first half of the 20th century.
The Raigarh gharana was established under the patronage of Raja Chakradhar Singh (1905-1947), the ruler of Raigarh. He was a great lover and patron of music and dance, and he was himself a skilled musician, dancer and writer. He invited leading Kathak masters from the Lucknow and Jaipur gharanas, as well as musicians from other traditions, to his court, and combined their styles to create a new school. He also wrote several books on music and dance, such as the Nartan Sarvasva, the Taal Toya Nidhi and the Raag Ratna Manjusha, and composed many new rhythmic compositions (bols). The Raigarh gharana is known for drawing on the strengths of the other gharanas and for its new compositions inspired by nature. The Chakradhar Samaroh, a festival of music and dance held every year in Raigarh around Ganesh Chaturthi, is named after him.
The other gharanas of Kathak have their own features. The Lucknow gharana, which developed under the Nawabs of Awadh, is known for its grace, elegance and expressive abhinaya. The Jaipur gharana, which developed under the Rajput rulers, is known for its powerful footwork, fast spins and complex rhythms. The Banaras gharana, which developed in Varanasi, is known for its balance of footwork and expression.
About the other options:
Kuchipudi, Odissi and Manipuri do not use the gharana system in the way that Kathak and Hindustani music do. Their styles and schools are usually named after gurus or regions.
💡 Exam tip
Learn the four gharanas of Kathak: Lucknow, Jaipur, Banaras and Raigarh. Link Raigarh with Raja Chakradhar Singh and Chhattisgarh, and Lucknow with Wajid Ali Shah.💬 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.