SSC
Which dance form of Nagaland, performed by the Kuki tribe, was traditionally performed as preparation for a hunting expedition?
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Answer: Option B — Sadal Kekai
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Sadal Kekai. Sadal Kekai is a traditional dance of the Kuki tribe of Nagaland. It was traditionally performed before a hunting expedition, to prepare the hunters and to pray for a successful and safe hunt. Hunting was an important part of the traditional life of many Naga tribes, and many of their dances and festivals are connected with it.
In the Sadal Kekai dance, the performers act out the different stages of the hunt, including the gathering of the hunters, the tracking of the animal, the hunt itself and the celebration of success. The dance is performed by men and women, wearing traditional Kuki dress and ornaments, to the beat of drums and the music of traditional instruments. The Kukis live in several states of north-eastern India, including Nagaland, Manipur, Assam and Mizoram, and they celebrate festivals such as Mimkut (a festival honouring the spirits of the departed, held after the harvest) and Chavang Kut (a harvest festival, especially in Manipur).
Nagaland has many tribal dances that appear in exams. These include Chang Lo of the Chang tribe, Zeliang of the Zeliang tribe, Changai of the Chang tribe, Leshalaptu of the Sumi tribe, Rengma, Aaluyattu and the many war dances performed at the Hornbill Festival, held every year from 1 to 10 December at Kisama near Kohima.
About the other options:
- Cheraw is the bamboo dance of Mizoram.
- Bardo Chham is a masked dance of the Sherdukpen tribe of Arunachal Pradesh, which shows the victory of good over evil.
- Hojagiri is a dance of the Reang community of Tripura, in which women balance pots, bottles and lamps while dancing.
- None of these is a hunting dance of Nagaland.
💡 Exam tip
Naga dances are often linked with war, hunting and harvest. Remember Chang Lo (victory, Chang tribe), Sadal Kekai (hunting, Kuki tribe) and Zeliang (Zeliang tribe), and the Hornbill Festival as the state's main cultural event.💬 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.