SSC
Which popular mask dance of Kerala is performed especially during the Onam festival?
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Answer: Option C — Kummattikali
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Kummattikali. Kummattikali is a colourful mask dance of Kerala, performed mainly in the Thrissur and Palakkad districts and nearby areas, especially during the Onam festival. The source book describes it as a mask dance of South Malabar, which roughly covers this region.
In Kummattikali, the performers wear brightly painted wooden masks that represent characters from mythology and folk tradition, such as Lord Krishna, Lord Shiva, Hanuman, Narada, the hunter (kirata) and the old woman (thalla), along with demons and animals. A distinctive feature of the costume is a skirt made of plaited grass, called kummatti pullu, which covers the body. The dancers go from house to house in the village, dancing to the beat of drums and the music of the onavillu (a stringed instrument), and the families welcome them and give them gifts of rice, money or food. The dance is accompanied by folk songs about gods and heroes, and it is a source of great fun and excitement, especially for children. Kummattikali is believed to bring blessings and good fortune to the households it visits.
Onam is the harvest festival of Kerala and the biggest festival of the state. It is celebrated in the Malayalam month of Chingam (August and September) and honours the legendary king Mahabali, who is believed to visit his people every year. The festival is marked by pookalam (floral designs), the Onasadya (a grand feast served on banana leaves), the Vallam Kali (snake boat races), Pulikali (the tiger dance of Thrissur) and many folk performances, such as Kummattikali and Thiruvathirakali.
About the other options:
- Oppana is a dance of the Muslim community of Kerala, performed by women at weddings, with singing and clapping.
- Margamkali is a group dance of the Syrian Christian community of Kerala, performed around a lamp.
Thiruvathirakali is a dance of Hindu women performed in a circle around a lamp, especially during the Thiruvathira festival and Onam. It does not use masks.
💡 Exam tip
Link Kummattikali with masks, grass skirts and Onam. Pulikali (tiger dance) is another Onam folk art, linked with Thrissur.💬 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.