Railway
The Spao dance, a warrior dance based on the legend of King Kesar, belongs to which region?
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Answer: Option D — Ladakh
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Ladakh. Spao is a traditional warrior dance of Ladakh, the high-altitude region in the north of India that became a Union Territory on 31 October 2019. It is linked with the legend of King Kesar (also known as Gesar), a legendary warrior king whose story is told in the Epic of King Gesar, one of the longest epic poems in the world, which is popular across Tibet, Ladakh, Mongolia and other parts of Central Asia.
In the Spao dance, the dancers, dressed as warriors in traditional costumes, carry swords and shields, and they perform vigorous, martial movements that recall the battles and heroic deeds of King Kesar and his army. The dance is accompanied by the music of the daman (drum) and the surna (a wind instrument, similar to the shehnai). It celebrates courage, strength and victory, and it is performed on festive occasions and at cultural events in Ladakh. The Kesar Saga, the Ladakhi version of the Gesar epic, is also recited and sung by bards in Ladakh, especially during the long winter months.
Ladakh's other well-known dances include Shondol, known as the royal dance of Ladakh, which was once performed for the kings; Jabro, a dance of the nomadic Changpa people of the Changthang plateau, performed at Losar; the Cham masked dances performed by Buddhist monks at monastery festivals such as Hemis; and the Balti dance of the Kargil region. Ladakh's culture is strongly influenced by Tibetan Buddhism, and the region is home to many famous monasteries, such as Hemis, Thiksey, Alchi, Lamayuru and Diskit.
About the other options:
- Sikkim is known for Chu Faat, Tashi Sabdo and the Cham dances of its monasteries.
- Arunachal Pradesh is known for Bardo Chham, Aji Lamu and Ponung.
- Uttarakhand is known for Choliya (a sword dance), Jhora and Hurka Baul.
- None of these is associated with the Spao dance and King Kesar.
💡 Exam tip
Ladakh's dances appear often in recent exams. Remember Spao (warrior dance, King Kesar), Shondol (royal dance), Jabro (Changpa nomads) and Cham (masked monastic dance).💬 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.