SSC
Which dance form of Goa is known as the 'Warrior Dance'?
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Answer: Option D — Ghode Modni
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Ghode Modni. Ghode Modni, which literally means "horse dance", is a folk dance of Goa that celebrates the bravery of the warriors of the Rane rulers who fought against the Portuguese. Because it recreates the spirit of battle, it is popularly called the warrior dance of Goa.
In this dance, male performers wear a decorated dummy horse frame around the waist, so that they appear to be riding horses. They dress in colourful warrior costumes, with turbans and sometimes swords, and they dance energetically to the beat of drums such as the dhol and taso. The dance is performed mainly in the northern talukas of Goa, such as Bicholim, Pernem and Sattari, especially during the spring festival of Shigmo. Shigmo is one of the most important festivals of Goa, and its parades feature many folk dances, including Ghode Modni.
About the other options:
Fugdi is a folk dance performed by women of the Konkan region, mostly during Ganesh Chaturthi and in the month of Bhadrapad. The women dance in circles or rows while singing.
Dekhni is a Goan dance in which a young woman, often shown as a devadasi, dances with an earthen pot on her shoulder, and it blends Indian rhythm with Western melodies.
Mando is a slow, graceful song and dance form of the Goan Catholic community that developed in the 19th and 20th centuries. It reflects themes of love and sorrow and shows a strong Portuguese influence.
💡 Exam tip
Remember the key Goan folk dances by theme: Ghode Modni (warrior or horse dance), Fugdi (women's dance in Bhadrapad), Dekhni (dance with a pot), Mando (Catholic love songs and dance), Dhalo (women's ritual dance) and Tarangamel (Holi and Dussehra dance with flags).💬 Discussions on this question
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Ask a doubtMore Indian Dance Forms Questions
View all ›- Q1.The techniques of Rasa and Bhava used in Indian classical dance trace their origin to which ancient text?
- 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:
- Q4.Manipuri dance is based on the Rasleela themes of:
- Q5.In which year did the Sangeet Natak Akademi recognise Sattriya of Assam as a classical dance form?
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.