UPSC CSE Pre. 2014, GS Paper I

Indian Folk and Classical Arts

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

Consider the following pairs: 1. Garba: Gujarat 2. Mohiniattam : Odisha 3. Yakshagana : Karnataka Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

Answer: C

Concept India's cultural diversity is reflected in its distinct folk, classical, and theatrical forms associated with specific states.

Explanation Garba is the folk dance of Gujarat. Mohiniattam is a classical dance from Kerala. Yakshagana is a traditional theatre form of Karnataka.

Logical Breakup

Pair 1 is Correct: Garba is performed during Navratri in Gujarat.

Pair 2 is Incorrect: Mohiniattam is from Kerala, not Odisha (Odisha's classical dance is Odissi).

Pair 3 is Correct: Yakshagana is a unique blend of dance, music, and dialogue from Karnataka.

Question

What does the word 'Mohiniattam' mean?

Answer

It means the 'dance of the enchantress' (Mohini), referring to a feminine avatar of Vishnu.

Yakshagana acts as a bridge between 'Marga' (classical) and 'Desi' (folk) traditions, using elaborate costumes and masks.