SSC
Which folk dance of West Bengal is traditionally performed by women after recovering from smallpox or after a wish has been fulfilled?
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)View answer ▾Hide ▴
Answer: Option C — Brita dance
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Brita dance. Brita (also spelt Vrita) is a folk dance of West Bengal, especially of the Birbhum, Bankura and Murshidabad districts. It is a ritual dance, traditionally performed by women as a thanksgiving. Women perform it after they or a family member have recovered from a serious illness, such as smallpox, or after a wish or vow has been fulfilled, such as the birth of a child.
In the past, smallpox was a feared and deadly disease, and many communities in eastern India believed that it was caused or controlled by Shitala, the goddess of smallpox and other diseases. When someone recovered, the family would offer thanks to the goddess by holding a Brita dance. The women dance in groups, with simple, rhythmic movements, to the sound of drums and the singing of devotional songs. The dance is an expression of gratitude and faith, and it also brings the women of the village together. Smallpox was declared eradicated worldwide by the World Health Organization in 1980, but the Brita dance survives as a part of the folk heritage of Bengal, performed at religious festivals and cultural events.
About the other options:
Gambhira is a folk dance and song form of the Malda region of West Bengal, performed with wooden masks during the Gajan festival of Lord Shiva. It is known for its humorous and satirical songs about social issues.
Dhunuchi Naach is the dance performed with clay pots of burning incense (dhunuchis) during Durga Puja.
Jatra is a popular form of folk theatre of Bengal and Odisha, performed by travelling troupes.
None of these is linked with recovery from smallpox.
West Bengal's other performing arts include Purulia Chhau, the Baul tradition of mystic minstrels, Rabindra Nritya, Santhal dances and Raibenshe, a martial dance of the Birbhum region.
💡 Exam tip
Brita dance is linked with West Bengal, women, thanksgiving and recovery from smallpox. It is one of the less common dances that SSC exams have asked about.💬 Discussions on this question
Ask a doubt ›Still stuck on this question? Ask our faculty and fellow students — answers appear here.
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.Which dance form of Goa is known as the 'Warrior Dance'?
- 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.