SSC
Which is the main percussion instrument used in the performance of Mohiniyattam?
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Answer: Option B — Edakka
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Edakka. The edakka (also spelt idakka) is a small, hourglass-shaped drum from Kerala, and it is the main percussion instrument used in Mohiniyattam, the graceful classical dance of Kerala performed by women.
The edakka is held in the left hand, usually hanging from the shoulder by a strap, and is played with a stick held in the right hand. Its special feature is that the player can change the pitch of the drum by squeezing or loosening the ropes that hold the two drumheads, using the left hand. This allows the edakka to produce melodic notes, not just rhythm, which is why it is sometimes described as a drum that can "sing". Its sound is soft and sweet, which suits the gentle, flowing, lasya style of Mohiniyattam. The edakka is also an important instrument in the temples of Kerala, where it is played as part of the Sopana Sangeetham, the devotional music sung on the steps leading to the inner sanctum. It is considered a sacred instrument, and it is traditionally treated with great respect.
Mohiniyattam is accompanied by an orchestra that usually includes a vocalist, the edakka, the mridangam, the flute, the veena and the cymbals (kuzhitalam). The songs are in Manipravalam and are set to the Sopana style of music.
About the other options:
Chenda is a large cylindrical drum of Kerala played with sticks. It is loud and powerful and is used in Kathakali and in temple festivals, but not as the main drum of Mohiniyattam.
Pung is the barrel-shaped drum of Manipur, played in the Pung Cholom dance.
Tabla is the pair of drums used in Hindustani music and Kathak.
💡 Exam tip
Link the classical dances with their main percussion instruments. Mohiniyattam goes with the edakka, Kathakali with the chenda and maddalam, Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi with the mridangam, Kathak with the tabla and pakhawaj, Odissi with the pakhawaj (mardala), and Manipuri with the pung.💬 Discussions on this question
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Music & Musical Instruments — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Music & Musical Instruments, 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.
This topic covers Indian classical music, its two main traditions (Hindustani and Carnatic), gharanas, ragas and talas, folk music styles, and the musical instruments of India along with the artists who are famous for playing them. It also includes the four classes of instruments: string (tata), wind (sushira), percussion (avanaddha) and solid (ghana). Exam questions usually pair an instrument with its maestro, such as the sitar with Pandit Ravi Shankar, the shehnai with Ustad Bismillah Khan or the santoor with Pandit Shivkumar Sharma. Other common questions ask about the origin of a gharana, the instrument a folk style uses, or the class an instrument belongs to. Making a two-column list of instruments and artists is the quickest way to revise. Practise the music and musical instruments 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.