UPSC GS Paper I: Art Culture, Martial Arts, Puppetry, Theatre Traditions across India

Must?Know

• Kalaripayattu – oldest martial art in India, originated in Kerala; associated with Dhanurveda and attributed to sage Parasurama.
• Silambam – Tamil Nadu martial art using bamboo staff; historically practiced by ancient Tamil warriors like the Maravar.
• Thang?ta – Manipuri martial art combining sword (thang) and spear (ta); integral to Meitei culture and performed in Lai Haraoba festival.
• Gatka – Sikh martial art using wooden sticks to simulate sword combat; traditionally practiced in Punjab during Baisakhi.
• Mardani Khel – Maharashtra’s martial tradition using swords and shields; linked to Maratha warriors, especially under Chhatrapati Shivaji.
• Pari-khanda – Odisha’s martial dance form involving sword and shield; performed in honor of Goddess Durga during Dussehra.
• Chhau dance – martial dance form from eastern India (Purulia, Seraikella, Mayurbhanj); uses masks in Purulia and Seraikella variants.
• Yakshagana – traditional theatre of Karnataka; performed all-night with elaborate costumes, based on epics like Mahabharata.
• Kathakali – classical dance-drama from Kerala; characters classified as pachcha (noble), kathi (anti-hero), and kari (demon).
• Bhavai – folk theatre of Gujarat; performed by women of the Kolhati community, often on themes of social satire.
• Jatra – Bengali folk theatre originating in 17th century; evolved from Krishna-lila performances, now includes social and political themes.
• Tamasha – Maharashtra’s traditional theatre; includes Lavani dance and sangeet natak, patronized by Peshwas in 18th century.
• Bhand Pather – Kashmiri folk theatre combining dance, music, and satire; traditionally performed by Bhand community during festivals.
• Nautanki – North Indian folk theatre popular in Uttar Pradesh; uses dhrupad and folk tunes, often based on legends like Amar Singh Rathore.
• Therukoothu – Tamil street theatre performed during temple festivals; uses exaggerated makeup and lasts several hours.
• Bhaona – Assamese theatrical performance based on Ankiya Naat, created by Srimanta Sankardeva in 15th century.
• Ramlila – dramatic reenactment of Ramayana; UNESCO-listed in Ramnagar (Varanasi), performed during Dussehra.
• Krishnattam – 8-day dance-drama on Krishna’s life, commissioned by King Manavedan of Calicut in 17th century.
• Tholu Bommalata – Andhra Pradesh’s shadow puppetry using leather puppets; themes from Ramayana and Mahabharata.
• Kundhei – Odisha’s rod puppetry; puppets made of wood and cloth, traditionally performed in temples.
• Putul Nautch – West Bengal’s string puppetry; often depicts social issues and folk tales.
• Gombeyatta – Karnataka’s string puppetry; influenced by Yakshagana in costume and theme.
• Bommalattam – Tamil Nadu’s combined rod and string puppetry; largest puppet tradition in India, uses complex mechanisms.
• Koodiyattam – Sanskrit theatre from Kerala, recognized by UNESCO in 2001; performed in temples by Chakyar and Nambiar communities.

Difficulty Level

Intermediate – requires precise knowledge of regional distribution, nomenclature, and cultural context; UPSC frequently asks about lesser-known forms and their states.

Common UPSC Traps

Trap: Chhau is only a dance form without martial elements – Fact: Chhau has martial origins and is classified as a martial dance; Mayurbhanj Chhau does not use masks, unlike Purulia and Seraikella.
Trap: Kathakali and Bharatanatyam both use similar mudras and themes – Fact: Kathakali uses vermillion and green face paint for characters; Bharatanatyam does not use such elaborate makeup and is not narrative-driven like Kathakali.
Trap: Tamasha is a devotional form like Bhajan – Fact: Tamasha includes Lavani, which is sensuous and performed for entertainment, not religious worship.
Trap: Ramlila is performed only in North India – Fact: Ramlila is performed across India, including in Kerala (as Ramattam) and West Bengal, though Ramnagar version is most famous.
Trap: Puppetry in India is only for children – Fact: Tholu Bommalata and Koodiyattam use puppetry for adult audiences and religious storytelling.

Practice MCQs

Question: Which of the following pairs is correctly matched?
A) Bhaona – Manipur
B) Yakshagana – Karnataka
C) Therukoothu – Kerala
D) Gombeyatta – Tamil Nadu
Answer: B
Explanation: Yakshagana is a traditional theatre form of Karnataka, performed with elaborate costumes and music.
Why others fail: Therukoothu is from Tamil Nadu, not Kerala; Gombeyatta is Karnataka’s string puppetry, not Tamil Nadu’s.

Question: Consider the following statements:

1. Kalaripayattu is mentioned in the Dhanurveda.

2. Thang-ta is practiced in Arunachal Pradesh.

3. Silambam is associated with the Maravar community.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A) 1 and 2 only
B) 1 and 3 only
C) 3 only
D) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: B
Explanation: Kalaripayattu is rooted in Dhanurveda; Silambam was practiced by Maravar warriors; Thang-ta is from Manipur, not Arunachal Pradesh.
Why others fail: Thang-ta is a Manipuri martial art, not associated with Arunachal Pradesh.

Question: Which one of the following is a shadow puppetry form of India?
A) Kundhei
B) Bommalattam
C) Tholu Bommalata
D) Putul Nautch
Answer: C
Explanation: Tholu Bommalata of Andhra Pradesh uses leather puppets projected as shadows.
Why others fail: Kundhei is rod puppetry; Bommalattam uses both rod and string; Putul Nautch is string puppetry.

Question: Koodiyattam, recognized by UNESCO, is traditionally performed by:
A) Devadasis
B) Chakyar and Nambiar communities
C) Bhat families
D) Lai Haraoba priests
Answer: B
Explanation: Koodiyattam is performed by Chakyar (actors) and Nambiar (drummers) in Kerala temples.
Why others fail: Devadasis are associated with Bharatanatyam; Bhat families perform puppetry.

Question: Which martial art is traditionally associated with the Maratha army under Shivaji?
A) Gatka
B) Mardani Khel
C) Silambam
D) Kalaripayattu
Answer: B
Explanation: Mardani Khel was practiced by Maratha warriors and involved sword and shield combat.
Why others fail: Gatka is Sikh; Silambam and Kalaripayattu are from South India.

Question: Which of the following is NOT a feature of Kathakali?
A) Use of pachcha for noble characters
B) Performance based on Manipravalam language
C) Inclusion of Lavani dance
D) Elaborate facial makeup
Answer: C
Explanation: Lavani is part of Tamasha, not Kathakali.
Why others fail: Kathakali uses Manipravalam (Sanskritized Malayalam) and pachcha makeup.

Question: Bhaona, a traditional theatre form, was initiated by:
A) Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
B) Srimanta Sankardeva
C) Tulsidas
D) Kabir
Answer: B
Explanation: Srimanta Sankardeva created Ankiya Naat, leading to Bhaona in Assam in the 15th century.
Why others fail: Tulsidas composed Ramcharitmanas; Kabir’s works are in Bhakti tradition but not linked to Bhaona.

Last?Minute Revision

• Kalaripayattu – Kerala, Dhanurveda origin.
• Thang-ta – Manipur, sword and spear.
• Gatka – Punjab, Sikh martial art.
• Silambam – Tamil Nadu, bamboo staff.
• Mardani Khel – Maharashtra, Shivaji’s army.
• Chhau – three styles: Purulia (WB), Seraikella (Jharkhand), Mayurbhanj (Odisha).
• Mayurbhanj Chhau – no masks.
• Koodiyattam – UNESCO 2001, Kerala.
• Yakshagana – Karnataka, night-long performance.
• Kathakali – pachcha, kathi, kari character types.
• Bhavai – Gujarat, Kolhati women.
• Jatra – Bengal, evolved from Krishna-lila.
• Tamasha – Maharashtra, includes Lavani.
• Bhand Pather – Kashmir, satirical.
• Nautanki – UP, Amar Singh Rathore.
• Therukoothu – Tamil Nadu, street theatre.
• Bhaona – Assam, Sankardeva, 15th century.
• Ramlila – Ramnagar, UNESCO-listed.
• Krishnattam – 8-day cycle, Calicut king.
• Tholu Bommalata – Andhra, shadow puppetry.
• Kundhei – Odisha, rod puppetry.
• Putul Nautch – West Bengal, string puppets.
• Gombeyatta – Karnataka, string puppets.
• Bommalattam – Tamil Nadu, largest puppets.
• Koodiyattam – performed in temples by Chakyar and Nambiar.