SSC
Zo Mal Lok, a dance depicting the stages of paddy cultivation, is associated with which state?
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Answer: Option D — Sikkim
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Sikkim. Zo Mal Lok is a folk dance of the Lepcha community of Sikkim. The Lepchas, who call themselves the Rong people, are considered the original inhabitants of Sikkim, and their traditional life is closely tied to farming and the natural environment of the Himalayan foothills.
Zo Mal Lok depicts the different stages of paddy (rice) cultivation, from preparing the fields and sowing the seeds to transplanting, weeding, harvesting and threshing. The dancers act out each of these tasks through their movements, accompanied by folk songs that describe the work and celebrate the harvest. The dance is a way of expressing gratitude to nature and the deities for a good crop, and it reflects the importance of rice in the life and culture of the Lepcha people. It is performed by men and women together, wearing traditional Lepcha costumes.
The Lepchas have a rich culture of songs, dances, legends and crafts. Their other dances include Chu Faat, performed in honour of Mount Kanchenjunga and its four neighbouring peaks, and dances linked with the Namsoong festival, the Lepcha new year. The Lepchas have their own script, called Rong, and their own traditional faith, called Mun or Bongthing, in addition to Buddhism and Christianity, which many of them now follow.
About the other options:
- Arunachal Pradesh is known for Bardo Chham, Ponung, Aji Lamu and Rikhampada.
- Meghalaya is known for Shad Suk Mynsiem, Wangala, Laho and Nongkrem.
- Tripura is known for Hojagiri, Garia, Mamita and Lebang Boomani.
- Although many of these states also have harvest dances, Zo Mal Lok is specifically a Lepcha dance of Sikkim.
💡 Exam tip
The Lepcha community of Sikkim appears frequently in exam questions. Remember two Lepcha dances: Chu Faat (worship of Mount Kanchenjunga) and Zo Mal Lok (paddy cultivation). Questions may name the dance and ask for the state or the community.💬 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.