SSC
Which classical dance developed from the Vaishnavite monasteries (sattras) of Assam?
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Answer: Option B — Sattriya
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Sattriya. Sattriya, the classical dance of Assam, takes its name from the sattras, the Vaishnavite monasteries of Assam where it was born and preserved. "Sattriya" means "belonging to the sattra".
The sattras were founded in the 15th and 16th centuries by Srimanta Sankaradeva (1449-1568), the saint, poet, playwright and social reformer who started the neo-Vaishnavite movement in Assam, and by his followers, especially his disciple Madhavadeva. Sankaradeva preached devotion to Krishna and used the arts to spread his message among ordinary people. He composed devotional songs called Borgeet, wrote one-act plays called Ankiya Nat, and created dances to be performed in these plays. In the sattras, the monks (bhakats) preserved and developed these dances for about 500 years, following strict rules of training and performance. For much of this time, the dance was performed only by male monks, inside the namghar (prayer hall) of the sattra, as part of daily rituals and festivals. In the 20th century, Sattriya moved onto the public stage, and women began to learn and perform it. It was recognised as a classical dance by the Sangeet Natak Akademi on 15 November 2000. Majuli, the largest river island in India, located in the Brahmaputra, is home to many of the most important sattras, such as Auniati, Dakhinpat, Garamur and Kamalabari.
About the other options:
Bihu is the most popular folk dance of Assam, linked with the Bihu festivals, especially Rongali Bihu in April. It is a folk dance, not a monastic classical dance.
Manipuri is the classical dance of Manipur, linked with the Ras Leela and Lai Haraoba.
Odissi is the classical dance of Odisha, linked with the Jagannath temple.
💡 Exam tip
Sattriya is linked with Sankaradeva, the sattras, Majuli, the Borgeet, the Ankiya Nat and the year 2000. Questions may also ask about its training exercises (Mati Akhora) and its dance types (Chali and Jhumura).💬 Discussions on this question
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Ask a doubtMore Indian Dance Forms Questions
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- Q2.Lavani, Powada, Koli, Waghya Murali and Dhangari Gaja are folk dances of which state?
- Q3.The one-act play associated with the Sattriya tradition of Assam is called:
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- Q5.Manipuri dance is based on the Rasleela themes of:
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.