SSC
The Veeragase dance, performed during the Dussehra festival, belongs to which state?
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Answer: Option C — Karnataka
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Karnataka. Veeragase is a vigorous folk dance of Karnataka, performed especially during the Dussehra festival, which is one of the most important festivals of the state, celebrated on a grand scale in Mysuru. It is also performed in the Hindu months of Shravana and Kartika and at other religious occasions.
Veeragase is based on the legend of Veerabhadra, a fierce form of Lord Shiva. According to the legend, Daksha, the father of Sati, held a great yajna (sacrifice) and insulted Shiva by not inviting him. When Sati went to the yajna and could not bear the insult to her husband, she gave up her life in the sacrificial fire. In his anger and grief, Shiva created Veerabhadra from a lock of his hair, and Veerabhadra destroyed the yajna of Daksha. The Veeragase dance recreates the fury and power of Veerabhadra. The dancers, usually two or more men, wear white costumes, a red headgear, rudraksha beads, and a silver or brass plate on the chest, and carry a sword in one hand and a wooden plank or shield in the other. They dance with vigorous, powerful movements, to the beat of drums such as the chamal and the sambal, while a narrator recites the story of Veerabhadra. The dance is traditionally linked with the Veerashaiva (Lingayat) tradition of Shiva worship in Karnataka.
About the other options:
- Andhra Pradesh has a similar dance in honour of Veerabhadra called Veeranatyam, but Veeragase belongs to Karnataka.
- Tamil Nadu is known for Bharatanatyam, Karagattam and Kummi.
- Kerala is known for Kathakali, Mohiniyattam and Theyyam.
- Karnataka's other folk arts include Yakshagana, Dollu Kunitha, Kamsale, Bhoota Kola, Huttari, Suggi and Huli Vesha (the tiger dance).
💡 Exam tip
Veeragase (Karnataka, during Dussehra) and Veeranatyam (Andhra Pradesh) both honour Veerabhadra. Read the question carefully to see which name or state is being asked.💬 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.