SSC
Which form of folk theatre is based on the life of Lord Krishna, especially his childhood and his love for Radha?
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Answer: Option B — Raasleela
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Raasleela. Raasleela (also spelt Raslila or Ras Leela) is a form of folk theatre and dance based on the life of Lord Krishna, especially his childhood in Gokul and Vrindavan, his playful pranks, and his love for Radha and the gopis (cowherd women). It is especially popular in the Braj region of Uttar Pradesh, around Mathura and Vrindavan, and it is performed most widely around the festivals of Janmashtami and Holi.
The word "raas" refers to the circular dance that Krishna performed with the gopis on a moonlit night on the banks of the Yamuna, as described in the Bhagavata Purana. According to the story, each gopi felt that Krishna was dancing only with her, which symbolises the personal relationship between God and each devotee. In the Raasleela of Braj, the roles of Krishna, Radha and the gopis are traditionally played by young boys, and the performances combine song, dance, dialogue and devotion. The performers are called rasdharis. The Raasleela of Braj has strongly influenced Kathak, and the Ras Leela of Manipur is a central part of Manipuri dance, given its present form by Maharaja Bhagyachandra in 1779.
About the other options:
Ramlila is a folk theatre form that enacts the story of Lord Rama, based on the Ramayana and especially the Ramcharitmanas of Tulsidas. It is performed during Navratri and ends with the burning of Ravana's effigy on Dussehra. UNESCO inscribed Ramlila on its intangible heritage list in 2008.
Nautanki is a popular folk theatre of Uttar Pradesh and North India that tells stories of love, heroism and history through song and dialogue.
Tamasha is a traditional folk theatre of Maharashtra that combines song, dance and comedy.
💡 Exam tip
Raasleela is linked with Krishna and the Braj region, while Ramlila is linked with Rama. Questions may also ask about the Ras Leela of Manipur, which is part of the classical Manipuri dance.💬 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.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.