Folk Dances Top 100 MCQs With Answer and Explanation

1. Which folk dance of Rajasthan is on UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity?
A) Ghoomar / Gangore
B) Kalbelia
C) Garba
D) Dandiya Raas

2. The folk dance Garba is performed in Gujarat during ________.
A) Dussehra
B) Holi
C) Navaratra
D) Diwali

3. Dandiya Raas is a lively folk dance of Gujarat that is performed with __________.
A) Bamboo sticks
B) Polished sticks or dandiyas
C) Long spears (Paika)
D) Bamboo poles (Pata)

4. Which folk dance of Goa is performed during Dussehra and Holi with rainbow-like costumes?
A) Fugdi
B) Tarangamel
C) Cheraw
D) Kolkali-Parichakali

5. Ghoomar / Gangore is a folk dance performed by the women of which tribe in Rajasthan?
A) Kalbelia tribe
B) Naga tribe
C) Bhil tribe
D) Maria tribe

6. The folk dance of Himachal Pradesh performed during Dussehra is __________.
A) Ghoomar
B) Charba
C) Bhangra
D) Giddha

7. The highly energetic folk dance of male performers in Punjab is __________.
A) Giddha
B) Charba
C) Bhangra
D) Jhoomar

8. Giddha is the female counterpart of which folk dance?
A) Jhoomar
B) Bhangra
C) Charba
D) Garba

9. Raslila, a folk dance of Uttar Pradesh, focuses on the theme of _________.
A) Harvest rituals
B) Martial movements
C) Love stories of Radha and Krishna
D) Storytelling from Puranas

10. The folk dance Dadra is extremely popular among the courtesans of _________.
A) Jaipur
B) Banaras
C) Lucknow
D) Raigarh

11. Jawara is a harvest dance from the Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh that involves balancing _________.
A) A pot of water
B) Earthen pots
C) A basket full of jawar
D) A shield

12. The Matki dance of Madhya Pradesh (Malwa) is performed by women who balance _________.
A) A single large pot
B) A number of earthen pots on the head
C) Long bamboo poles
D) Furry costumes

13. Gaur Maria is a ritualistic dance by the Maria tribes of Bastar (Chhattisgarh) that imitates the movements of a ________.
A) Tiger
B) Serpent
C) Peacock
D) Bison

14. Alkap is a rural dance-drama performed in the Rajmahal hills (Jharkhand) and which part of West Bengal?
A) Purulia and Midnapore
B) Rajshahi, Murshidabad and Malda
C) Bankura and Bardhaman
D) Darjeeling and Cooch Behar

15. Biraha (Bihar) is a popular variant, Bidesia, which portrays the pain of women whose partners are away from home, and is performed solely by ________.
A) Females only
B) Males only, who also play the role of female characters
C) Both men and women in separate groups
D) Young boys dressed as females

16. Paika is a martial folk dance of Odisha, and the word ‘Paika’ signifies ________.
A) Dance
B) Long spear
C) Battle
D) Shadow

17. Jat-Jatin (Bihar) is a folk dance that represents the tender love and quarrel of a __________.
A) Radha and Krishna
B) Warrior and a princess
C) Married couple
D) Devadasi and a saint

18. Jhumar is a harvest dance performed by tribal people of Jharkhand and Odisha, with two variations: Janani Jhumar and ___________.
A) Mardana Jhumar
B) Karma Jhumar
C) Raut Jhumar
D) Bihu Jhumar

19. The Bihu dance of Assam is performed in a group by ________.
A) Men only
B) Women only
C) Both men and women
D) Bhokots only

20. Thang Ta, an exclusive martial dance of Manipur, means _________.
A) Sword and Spear
B) Shield and Stick
C) Dance and Drama
D) Shadow and Light

21. Rangma/Bamboo dance is the war dance of the Nagas in _______.
A) Sikkim
B) Manipur
C) Nagaland
D) Mizoram

22. The mask dance of Sikkim with furry costumes, symbolizing the snow lion, is ___________.
A) Chhaum
B) Singhi Chham
C) Dumhal
D) Padayani

23. Kummi is a dance performed by women in Tamil Nadu and Kerala in a circular formation, in the absence of any _________.
A) Accompanying music
B) Male dancers
C) Earthen pots
D) Ritualistic masks

24. In Mayilattam (Kerala and Tamil Nadu), young girls are dressed as _________.
A) Serpents
B) Snow Lions
C) Peacocks
D) Infantry

25. Burrakatha (Andhra Pradesh) is a solo performance where a single performer narrates stories from _____________.
A) Local folklore
B) The Vedas
C) Puranas
D) Modern history

26. Butta Bommalu (Andhra Pradesh) literally means _________.
A) Devil worship
B) Rows of infantry
C) Basket toys
D) Snake dance

27. Kaikottikali is a temple dance performed by both men and women during which festival in Kerala?
A) Diwali
B) Dussehra
C) Holi
D) Onam

28. Padayani (Kerala) is a martial temple dance where the huge masks worn by dancers are known as ________.
A) Kolams
B) Bommalu
C) Paguri
D) Turban

29. Kolkali-Parichakali (Kerala and Lakshwadeep) is a martial dance where ‘Kol’ and ‘Paricha’ mean ______.
A) Sword and Shield
B) Stick and Shield
C) Spear and Stick
D) Dance and Music

30. Bhootha Aradhane (Karnataka) literally means ________.
A) Ritualistic dance
B) Devil worship
C) Serpent dance
D) Royal court dance

31. Pata Kunitha (Karnataka) is a religious dance performed by men using long bamboo poles known as ‘pata’, which are decorated with _______.
A) Dussehra
B) Holi
C) Navaratra
D) Diwali

32. Chakyar Koothu (Kerala) is a solo performance where the performer dresses himself as a ________.
A) Buffalo
B) Snake
C) Lion
D) Peacock

33. Jhoomar is a dance performed by the tribal Sikhs of _______.
A) Jammu & Kashmir
B) Himachal Pradesh
C) Punjab
D) Haryana

34. Karma Naach is performed during the tribal festival of ‘Karma’ in the _______.
A) Malwa region
B) Bastar region
C) Chota Nagpur plateau (Eastern India)
D) Mithila region

35. Raut Naach (Chhattisgarh) is performed by the Yadav community during which festival?
A) Karma
B) Dussehra
C) Diwali
D) Holi

36. Dumhal (Jammu & Kashmir) is performed by the Wattal tribe, where the men wear a tall conical hat with _________.
A) Bells
B) Furry costumes
C) Colourful costumes
D) Peacock feathers

37. Fugdi is a folk dance performed by women in the Konkan region of _______.
A) Kerala
B) Karnataka
C) Goa
D) Andhra Pradesh

38. Cheraw (Mizoram) is performed using ________.
A) Long spears
B) Bamboo stick
C) Earthen pots
D) Long bamboo poles (pata)

39. Dalkhai is a folk dance of Odisha performed during _________.
A) Diwali
B) Dussehra
C) Holi
D) Onam

40. Which dance is described as a ‘unique blend of dance, drama and music’ from Odisha?
A) Danda-Jatra
B) Paika
C) Dalkhai
D) Odissi

41. The Chhau dance is practiced in the states of _______.
A) Odisha, West Bengal, and Jharkhand
B) Assam, Manipur, and Nagaland
C) Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh
D) Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh

42. In the Kuchipudi element ‘Tarangam’, the dancer is balancing a pot of water on the head or a set of _______.
A) Fruits
B) Diyas
C) Swords
D) Stones

43. Which musical instrument is not mentioned as accompanying Mohiniattam?
A) Cymbals
B) Veena
C) Drums
D) Mridgangam

44. In Kathakali, the facial color ‘Black’ signifies ___________.
A) Nobility
B) Virtue
C) Evil and wickedness
D) Divinity

45. The Odissi dance mentioned as being practiced by ‘maharis’ and patronized by Jain king Kheravela was called _________.
A) Nartala
B) Gotipuas
C) Odra nritya
D) Mangalacharan

46. A feature of Odissi is that the lower body largely remains ________.
A) Dynamic
B) Moving
C) Static
D) Bending

47. In Manipuri, the dance is generally performed by females wearing unique ___________.
A) White sarees with gold brocade
B) Short skirts
C) Long skirts
D) Dhoti and Paguri

48. Which two other art forms are mentioned as being influenced by Manipuri dance?
A) Kathakali and Koodiyattam
B) Chhau and Kalbelia
C) Thang-Ta and Sankirtana
D) Ojapali and Devadasi

49. The concluding piece of Kathak, characterized by intricate and fast footwork, is _______.
A) Tarana
B) Padhant
C) Kramalaya
D) Jugalbandi

50. The modern form of Sattriya is known by which two names?
A) Tarana and Kramalaya
B) Mangalacharan and Moksha
C) Gayan-Bhayanar Nach and Kharmanar Nach
D) Tarangam and Manduk shabdam

51. The folk dance Ghoomar / Gangore is performed in which state?
A) Gujarat
B) Himachal Pradesh
C) Rajasthan
D) Punjab

52. The folk dance Raslila is associated with which state?
A) Gujarat
B) Madhya Pradesh
C) Uttar Pradesh
D) Bihar

53. The folk dance Jawara is associated with which state?
A) Chhattisgarh
B) Madhya Pradesh (Bundelkhand)
C) Jharkhand
D) Odisha

54. Which state is the origin of the martial folk dance Paika?
A) Bihar
B) Jharkhand
C) Odisha
D) West Bengal

55. The folk dance Thang Ta is associated with which state?
A) Assam
B) Manipur
C) Nagaland
D) Sikkim

56. The folk dance Kummi is associated with which two southern states?
A) Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh
B) Kerala and Tamil Nadu
C) Kerala and Karnataka
D) Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu

57. Burrakatha is a folk art form from which state?
A) Kerala
B) Karnataka
C) Tamil Nadu
D) Andhra Pradesh

58. The martial dance Kolkali-Parichakali is associated with Kerala and _____.
A) Tamil Nadu
B) Lakshwadeep
C) Karnataka
D) Andaman

59. Bhootha Aradhane (Devil Worship) is a traditional dance from _________.
A) Andhra Pradesh
B) Karnataka
C) Kerala
D) Odisha

60. Which dance of Jammu & Kashmir is performed by the Wattal tribe?
A) Jhoomar
B) Dumhal
C) Raut Naach
D) Karma Naach

61. Cheraw, performed using bamboo sticks, is a dance from _______.
A) Nagaland
B) Mizoram
C) Manipur
D) Sikkim

62. How many ‘Rasas’ (Emotions) are mentioned in the provided text?
A) Seven
B) Eight
C) Nine
D) Ten

63. Which classical dance form gives equal emphasis on both Tandava and Lasya?
A) Kuchipudi
B) Kathakali
C) Bharatnatyam
D) Mohiniattam

64. In Bharatnatyam, the element ‘Jawali’ is described as _______.
A) Introductory piece
B) Nritta component
C) Short love-lyrics performed at a faster tempo
D) Concluding performance

65. The Kuchipudi recital is performed in which language?
A) Malayalam
B) Manipravalam
C) Telugu
D) Sanskrit

66. Which instrument is mentioned as being used in Mohiniattam along with Cymbals, veena, and drums?
A) Mridgangam
B) Flute
C) Chhenda
D) Pakhawaj

67. In Kathakali, a white beard signifies ____________.
A) Evil
B) Royalty
C) Higher consciousness and divinity
D) Wickedness

68. Kathakali is generally performed in open air with a brass lamp for ________.
A) Sound
B) Lighting
C) Decoration
D) Ritual

69. Which two classical dance forms are associated with Kerala, as per the initial list?
A) Mohiniattam and Bharatnatyam
B) Kathakali and Kuchipudi
C) Mohiniattam and Kathakali
D) Kathakali and Odissi

70. Which of the following is not a dance element of Kathak mentioned in the text?
A) Ananda
B) Thaat
C) Varnam
D) Tarana

71. Who was the patron of the Lucknow Gharana of Kathak?
A) Bhanuji
B) Raja Chakradhar Singh
C) Nawab Wajid Ali Khan
D) Janakiprasad

72. The female Sattriya costume is made in which kind of silk?
A) Tussar silk
B) Pat silk
C) Kanchipuram silk
D) Muga silk

73. The vigorous martial movements in Chhau dance are used to narrate ______.
A) Historical accounts
B) Courtly dramas
C) Mythological stories
D) Social issues

74. Which folk dance is described as a ‘lively dance with polished sticks or dandiyas’?
A) Garba
B) Dandiya Raas
C) Charba
D) Bhangra

75. What is the theme of the folk dance Raslila (Uttar Pradesh)?
A) The pain of separation
B) Martial valour
C) Love stories of Radha and Krishna
D) Harvest celebration

76. Which folk dance involves balancing a basket full of jawar on the head?
A) Matki
B) Jawara
C) Gaur Maria
D) Dadra

77. The dance-drama Biraha (Bihar) is a portrayal of the pain of women whose partners are ________.
A) Lost in battle
B) Away from home
C) Unfaithful
D) Deceased

78. The word ‘Paika’ is also the name for a type of _______.
A) Drum
B) Long spear
C) Shield
D) Dance step

79. The war dance of the Nagas is called _______.
A) Thang Ta
B) Rangma/Bamboo dance
C) Singhi Chham
D) Cheraw

80. Kaikottikali (Kerala) is a temple dance performed during _______.
A) Christmas
B) Pongal
C) Onam
D) Vishu

81. Padayani literally means ______.
A) Devil worship
B) Rows of infantry
C) Basket toys
D) Snake dance

82. Pata Kunitha (Karnataka) is a religious dance performed by men using pata, which are _______.
A) Earthen pots
B) Masks
C) Long bamboo poles
D) Spears

83. Jhoomar is a dance performed by the tribal Sikhs in Punjab, while Jhumar is a harvest dance in _________.
A) Gujarat and Rajasthan
B) Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh
C) Jharkhand and Odisha
D) Assam and Manipur

84. Raut Naach is performed by the Yadav community in _________.
A) Bihar
B) Jharkhand
C) Chhattisgarh
D) Madhya Pradesh

85. Fugdi is performed by women in the Konkan region of Goa, and it is a type of _______.
A) Martial dance
B) Solo performance
C) Folk dance
D) Classical dance

86. The Dalkhai folk dance is performed in which state?
A) Odisha
B) Chhattisgarh
C) West Bengal
D) Jharkhand

87. Which of the following ‘Rasas’ corresponds to ‘Tragedy’?
A) Veera
B) Karuna
C) Bhayanak
D) Adbhuta

88. ‘Bhayanak’ is the Rasa (Emotion) corresponding to _________.
A) Anger
B) Disgust
C) Horror
D) Wonder

89. According to the Abhinaya Darpan, the three basic elements of dance are __________.
A) Lasya, Tandava, Rasa
B) Nritta, Natya, Nritya
C) Alarippu, Varnam, Thillana
D) Abhinaya, Bhava, Sthayi

90. Which of the following is not a feature of Kathakali?
A) Themes from epics and puranas.
B) Language is Manipravalam.
C) Dominance of the Lasya aspect.
D) Minimal use of props.

91. Who formalized the Kuchipudi tradition in the 17th century?
A) Balasaraswati
B) Raja Bhag Chandra
C) Siddhendra Yogi
D) Shankaradeva

92. Mohiniattam is described as the dance of a beautiful woman, where attam means __________.
A) Story
B) Grace
C) Dance
D) Enchantress

93. The folk dance Butta Bommalu involves dancers wearing ___________.
A) Furry costumes
B) Huge masks known as kolams
C) Masks of different characters, resembling toy like shapes
D) Thin veils

94. The traditional dance Bhootha Aradhane (Devil Worship) is performed by placing idols depicting devils on a ________.
A) Tree
B) Plinth
C) Altar
D) Circular formation

95. The folk dance Singhi Chham in Sikkim symbolizes the ______.
A) Dancing Peacock
B) Battle Warrior
C) Snow lion
D) Serpent

96. The folk dance Dandiya Raas is from which state?
A) Rajasthan
B) Gujarat
C) Goa
D) Punjab

97. The dance Dalkhai is performed in Odisha during which festival?
A) Karma
B) Diwali
C) Dussehra
D) Holi

98. The folk dance Charba is performed in which state?
A) Punjab
B) Rajasthan
C) Himachal Pradesh
D) Jammu & Kashmir

99. The folk dance of Kerala which is a martial temple dance is ________.
A) Kaikottikali
B) Kolkali-Parichakali
C) Padayani
D) Mohiniattam

100. Which element of Bharatnatyam is described as the ‘Dramatic element with expressed words (abhinaya)’?
A) Alarippu
B) Jatiswaram
C) Shabdam
D) Varnam