Khagen Mahanta was a notable personality in the folk music of which state?

Explanation

Khagen Mahanta (1942-2014) was a famous singer of Assamese folk music, especially Bihu songs and other folk songs of Assam. He is remembered as one of the most important voices of Assamese folk music in the 20th century.

Khagen Mahanta was born in Nagaon, Assam, into a family linked with the Vaishnavite sattra tradition, and he learnt folk and devotional music from a young age. He was known for his deep, earthy voice and his ability to bring the songs of village life, festivals and nature to listeners. He sang Bihu geet (the songs of the Bihu festival), Borgeet (devotional songs of Sankaradeva and Madhavadeva), Kamrupi lokgeet, Goalpariya lokgeet and many other folk forms. He often performed with his wife, Archana Mahanta, who was also a well-known folk singer, and the couple was very popular across Assam. Their son, Angaraag Mahanta, better known as Papon, is a famous singer in Hindi and Assamese films and popular music.

Assam has a rich tradition of music. Bihu songs are sung during the Bihu festivals, especially Rongali Bihu in April. Borgeet are the devotional songs of the Vaishnavite tradition. Other famous figures of Assamese music include Bhupen Hazarika (known as the "Bard of the Brahmaputra"), Jyoti Prasad Agarwala (known as "Rupkonwar") and Bishnu Prasad Rabha (known as "Kalaguru").

Why not the other options?

• ✗West Bengal is known for folk music such as Baul and Bhatiali.
• ✗Odisha is known for folk music such as Sambalpuri songs and the Pala tradition.
• ✗Manipur is known for Nata Sankirtana and the music of the Lai Haraoba.