UPSC CSE Prelims
Indian Dance Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Showing solved Previous Year Questions for Chapter: Indian Dance
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With reference to Manipuri Sankirtana, consider the following statements:
- It is a song and dance performance.
- Cymbals are the only musical instruments used in the performance.
- It is performed to narrate the life and deeds of Lord Krishna.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 2 — 1 and 3 only
Manipuri Sankirtana is a traditional performance art form from Manipur that combines singing, drumming, and dancing to narrate the life and deeds of Lord Krishna. It uses multiple musical instruments, not just cymbals.
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Manipuri Sankirtana is indeed a song and dance performance that combines singing, dancing, and drumming as an integral part of Vaishnavite traditions in Manipur.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Besides cymbals (Kartal), Manipuri Sankirtana uses several other instruments including the Pung (barrel-shaped drum), which is the primary percussion instrument, along with Harmonium and other instruments.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: The performance is primarily dedicated to narrating the life, deeds, and leelas (divine plays) of Lord Krishna, forming a core aspect of Manipuri Vaishnavism and religious congregation.
Additional Information: Manipuri Sankirtana was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2013, recognizing its significance as a living tradition that encompasses ritual singing, drumming and dancing performed in temples and domestic spaces in Manipur.
Consider the following pairs
- Garba : Gujarat
- Mohiniattam : Odisha
- Yakshagana : Karnataka
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Garba is a traditional folk dance of Gujarat, performed during Navratri in honour of Goddess Durga.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Mohiniyattam is a classical dance form of Kerala, not Odisha. It features graceful, feminine movements performed solo by women.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Yakshagana is a traditional theatre form of Karnataka, combining dance, music, dialogue, and elaborate costumes to depict mythological stories.
With reference to the famous Sattriya dance, consider the following statements:
- Sattriya is a combination of music, dance and drama.
- It is a centuries-old living tradition of Vaishnavites of Assam.
- It is based on classical Ragas and Talas of devotional songs composed by Tulsidas, Kabir and Mirabai.
Which of the statements given above is /are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Sattriya is a combination of music, dance, and drama, incorporating storytelling through movement, expressions, and devotional songs.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: It is a centuries-old living tradition of Vaishnavites of Assam, originated in the 15th century by Srimanta Sankardev as part of the neo-Vaishnavite movement.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Sattriya is based on compositions by Sankardev and Assamese saints, not Tulsidas, Kabir, or Mirabai, who belonged to different regional Bhakti traditions; it uses distinct Assamese Ragas and Talas.
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In the context of the cultural history of India, a pose in dance and dramatics called ‘Tribhanga’ has been a favourite of Indian artists from ancient times till today. Which one of the following statements best describes this pose?
Detailed Explanation:
Tribhanga (meaning 'three bends') is a classical standing pose in Indian art and dance where the body forms a gentle S-shaped curve with bends at three points: neck, waist, and knee.
This tri-bent posture creates opposite curves at the waist and neck, making it the most graceful and sensuous pose in traditions like Odissi dance and temple sculpture, frequently depicted in images of Lord Krishna.
How do you distinguish between Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam dances?
- Dancers occasionally speaking dialogues is found in Kuchipudi dance but not in Bharatanatyam.
- Dancing on the brass plate by keeping the feet on its edges is a feature of Bharatanatyam but Kuchipudi dance does not have such a form of movements.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Kuchipudi dancers use Vachika Abhinaya (spoken dialogues) during performances, which is a unique feature not found in Bharatanatyam.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Dancing on brass plates (Tarangam) is a distinctive feature of Kuchipudi, not Bharatanatyam.