SSC
Which community of Sikkim is traditionally associated with the folk dance Chu Faat?
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Answer: Option A — Lepcha
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Lepcha. Chu Faat is a folk dance of the Lepcha community of Sikkim, who are considered the original inhabitants of the state. The Lepchas call themselves the Rong or Rongkup ("children of the snowy peaks"), and they call their homeland Mayel Lyang, which means "the land of hidden paradise".
Chu Faat is performed in honour of Mount Kanchenjunga, the third-highest mountain in the world, which the people of Sikkim regard as their guardian deity, and its four neighbouring peaks: Kabru, Pandim, Simvo and Narsing. In the Lepcha language, "Chu" means snowy range and "Faat" means worship. The dancers carry butter lamps and green leaves and dance with slow, graceful movements, while singing songs of devotion to the mountains, asking for their protection and blessings. The dance is especially linked with the Pang Lhabsol festival, held in August or September, which honours Mount Kanchenjunga as the guardian deity of Sikkim and celebrates the blood brotherhood between the Lepchas and the Bhutias.
The Lepchas have their own language and script (the Rong script), a rich tradition of folklore and songs, and a deep knowledge of the forests, plants and animals of the Himalayas. Many Lepchas live in the Dzongu region of North Sikkim, which is set aside as a reserve for the Lepcha community. Their other dances include Zo Mal Lok, which depicts the stages of paddy cultivation.
About the other options:
- The Bhutia community, of Tibetan origin, is known for the Tashi Sabdo dance and the Singhi Chham (snow lion dance).
- The Limbu community, part of the Nepali-speaking population, is known for the Chyabrung dance (a drum dance).
- The Tamang community, also part of the Nepali-speaking population, is known for the Tamang Selo song and dance and the damphu drum.
- None of these performs the Chu Faat.
💡 Exam tip
Sikkim's three main communities are the Lepchas, the Bhutias and the Nepalis. Link Chu Faat and Zo Mal Lok with the Lepchas, Tashi Sabdo with the Bhutias, and Maruni and Tamang Selo with the Nepali communities.💬 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.