Dance, Music and Art Forms of India

Dance, Music and Art Forms of India

Indian culture includes many dance, music and art forms tied to different states. Exams ask which form belongs to which state. This topic overlaps with art and culture sections of the syllabus.

Classical Dances

  • Bharatanatyam - Tamil Nadu
  • Kathak - Uttar Pradesh (North India)
  • Kathakali, Mohiniyattam - Kerala
  • Kuchipudi - Andhra Pradesh
  • Odissi - Odisha
  • Manipuri - Manipur; Sattriya - Assam

Music Systems

  • Hindustani music - North Indian classical music
  • Carnatic music - South Indian classical music
  • Both are based on the concepts of raga and tala
  • Famous instruments: sitar, tabla, veena, sarod, flute
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Folk and Tribal Art

  • Madhubani painting - Bihar
  • Warli painting - Maharashtra
  • Pattachitra - Odisha
  • Tanjore painting - Tamil Nadu
  • Phad painting - Rajasthan

Theatre and Puppetry

  • Yakshagana - Karnataka
  • Tamasha - Maharashtra
  • Nautanki - Uttar Pradesh
  • Kathputli puppetry - Rajasthan

Quick Revision Points

  • Bharatanatyam belongs to Tamil Nadu.
  • Kathakali and Mohiniyattam belong to Kerala.
  • Hindustani is North Indian, Carnatic is South Indian classical music.
  • Madhubani painting is from Bihar.
  • Warli painting is from Maharashtra.
  • Pattachitra is from Odisha.
  • Yakshagana is a theatre form of Karnataka.
  • Kathputli puppetry is from Rajasthan.

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