SSC
Veeranatyam (Veera Natyam), a ritual dance in honour of Veerabhadra, is a dance form of which state?
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Answer: Option D — Andhra Pradesh
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Andhra Pradesh. Veeranatyam, which means "dance of the brave", is a ritual dance of Andhra Pradesh, performed especially in the East Godavari district, around the famous Shiva temple at Draksharamam. It is performed by the Veeramusti community in honour of Veerabhadra, a fierce form of Lord Shiva.
According to the legend behind the dance, Daksha, the father of Sati (Shiva's first wife), held a great yajna (sacrifice) and insulted Shiva by not inviting him. Sati went to the yajna and, unable to bear the insult to her husband, gave up her life in the sacrificial fire. In his grief and anger, Shiva created Veerabhadra from a lock of his hair, and Veerabhadra destroyed Daksha's yajna. Veeranatyam recreates this furious dance of destruction. The dancers perform vigorous, powerful movements to the loud beat of drums called veeranam, and they carry objects such as trishuls (tridents) and swords. Some performers also carry burning lamps or perform feats of endurance, such as piercing the body with sharp objects, as acts of devotion. The dance is performed during Shiva festivals, such as Mahashivratri, and in temple processions.
About the other options:
Karnataka is known for Yakshagana, Dollu Kunitha and Kamsale. The Veeragase dance of Karnataka is also linked with Veerabhadra, but Veeranatyam is the dance of Andhra Pradesh.
Odisha is known for Odissi, Gotipua and Danda Nata.
Tamil Nadu is known for Bharatanatyam, Karagattam and Kummi.
Andhra Pradesh is also known for Kuchipudi (its classical dance), Veedhi Bhagavatam (street theatre), Kolattam (stick dance), Dhimsa (a tribal dance of the Araku valley), Butta Bommalu and Burrakatha.
💡 Exam tip
Two similar dances honour Veerabhadra: Veeranatyam of Andhra Pradesh and Veeragase of Karnataka (performed during Dussehra). Read the question carefully to see which state or name is being asked about.💬 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.