Art & Culture of India

Overview & Fundamental Concept

Comprehensive cadet preparation guide for Art & Culture of India under AISSEE Class VI General Knowledge (Syllabus Item 3). Covers 8 classical dances, folk arts, traditional painting styles, harvest festivals, and architectural wonders with mnemonics.

• Source Treatise: All classical dance forms of India trace their theoretical foundation to the Natya Shastra, an ancient Sanskrit treatise on performing arts attributed to Sage Bharata Muni (composed c. 200 BCE – 200 CE).
• Constitutional Recognition: The Sangeet Natak Akademi (India's National Academy for Music, Dance and Drama) officially recognizes exactly 8 classical dance forms.
• 1. Bharatanatyam (Tamil Nadu): The oldest classical dance tradition in India. Evolved from the ancient temple dance tradition performed by Devadasis in South Indian Shiva temples (formerly called Sadir Attam). Characterized by fixed upper torso, bent knees (*Aramandi*), crisp footwork, and expressive eye and hand mudras. Famous exponents: Rukmini Devi Arundale (founded Kalakshetra), Yamini Krishnamurthy.
• 2. Kathak (Uttar Pradesh / Northern India): Originates from the traveling storytellers called Kathakars. Heavily patronized during the Mughal court era. Famous for dazzling footwork (*Tatkar*), rhythmic pirouettes (*Chakkars*), and ankle bell bells (*Ghungroos*). Major Gharanas: Lucknow, Jaipur, and Banaras. Legendary doyen: Pandit Birju Maharaj.
• 3. Kathakali (Kerala): A grand classical dance-drama traditionally performed by male actors depicting scenes from the Mahabharata and Ramayana. Celebrated for elaborate face makeup (*Chutti*), monumental headgear (*Kiritam*), and symbolic color codes: Green (*Paccha*) represents noble, virtuous gods/kings; Red/Black beard (*Kathi/Kari*) represents evil or demonic characters.
• 4. Kuchipudi (Andhra Pradesh): Originated in the village of Kuchelapuram in Krishna district. Traditionally a dance-drama created by saint Siddhendra Yogi. Famous for the virtuoso piece Tarangam, where the dancer balances and dances upon the raised rim of a brass plate, often holding a pitcher filled with water on the head without spilling a drop. Renowned exponents: Raja and Radha Reddy.
• 5. Odissi (Odisha): Originated in the temples of Odisha as a devotional offering by temple dancers (*Maharis*). Renowned for its sensuous, lyric grace and the signature Tribhanga posture (a three-bend bodily stance where neck, torso, and knees bend in opposing curves) and the square stance *Chowk*. Legendary revivalist: Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra.
• 6. Manipuri / Jagoi (Manipur): Deeply rooted in the devotional Vaishnavite worship of Lord Krishna and Radha (the celestial Raasleela). Dancers perform with soft, gliding, fluid movements without wearing ankle bells (ghungroos). Female dancers wear a distinctive stiff cylindrical barrel-shaped skirt called Kumil and a translucent white face veil.
• 7. Mohiniyattam (Kerala): Literally means 'Dance of the Enchantress' (referring to the divine female Mohini avatar of Lord Vishnu). A graceful, swaying solo feminine dance reminiscent of waving palm fronds and ocean swells. Dancers wear an off-white or cream-colored plain Kasavu saree with a rich golden border and a side hair bun (*Kuduma*) adorned with jasmine flowers.
• 8. Sattriya (Assam): Created in the 15th century CE by the great Vaishnavite saint, philosopher, and social reformer Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev in Assamese monastic institutions called Sattras. Officially recognized as the 8th classical dance form by Sangeet Natak Akademi in the year 2000.

• Folk dances are community-based cultural expressions celebrating harvests, seasonal transitions, religious fairs, and weddings.
• Punjab: Bhangra (exuberant harvest dance performed by men to the beats of the Dhol during Baisakhi), Giddha (graceful clap dance performed by women reciting Boliyan), and Kikli (girls whirling in pairs).
• Gujarat: Garba (performed during the 9 nights of Navratri around a perforated clay lantern called Garbha Deep) and Dandiya Raas (energetic stick dance simulating the sword fight of Goddess Durga).
• Rajasthan: Ghoomar (regal twirling dance of Bhil and Rajput women wearing flared Ghaghra skirts), Kalbelia (sensuous snake-charmer community dance using the *Pungi* instrument; inscribed on UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List), and Bhavai (balancing 7 to 9 brass pitchers on the head while dancing on sword edges or glass).
• Maharashtra: Lavani (high-energy rhythmic dance performed to the rapid beats of the *Dholki* wearing a 9-yard *Nauvari* saree), Tamasha (traditional folk theatre), Koli (dance of coastal fisherfolk), and Lezim (rhythmic percussion metal-cymbals drill).
• Assam: Bihu Dance (brisk, joyful dance performed during Bohag Bihu with rapid hand movements, accompanied by the Dhol, Pepa buffalo horn flute, and Taal).
• Mizoram: Cheraw (Bamboo Dance) (dancers skillfully step in and out of rhythmic clapping horizontal bamboo poles kept on the ground).
• Jammu & Kashmir: Rouf (performed by women in rows during Eid and spring) and Dumhal (performed by men of the Wattal tribe wearing tall conical caps).
• Himachal Pradesh: Nati (world record holder for largest synchronized folk dance; celebrated during Kullu Dussehra).
• Karnataka: Yakshagana (elaborate overnight theatrical dance-drama combining heavy face paint, regal turbans, and dialogues in Kannada).
• Goa: Fugdi and Dhalo (women's folk dances during festivals) and Shigmo (spring festival street dance).
• Jharkhand / Odisha / West Bengal: Chhau Dance (martial mask dance with acrobatic leaps; three distinct schools: Purulia Chhau in WB, Seraikella Chhau in Jharkhand, and Mayurbhanj Chhau in Odisha).

• Madhubani (Mithila) Painting (Bihar): Traditionally painted by women on freshly plastered mud walls of houses in the Mithila region (Madhubani, Darbhanga). Executed using twigs, fingers, brushes, and matchsticks with natural plant dyes (turmeric, indigo, rice paste, soot). Characterized by double-line borders, prominent bulging eyes, and zero empty space (every blank gap is filled with birds, flowers, or geometric motifs). Received GI tag.
• Warli Painting (Maharashtra): Ancient tribal folk art originating from the Warli tribe in the Sahyadri mountains (Thane/Palghar). Painted on walls coated with red ochre mud and cow dung using a white pigment made from ground rice paste, water, and gum. Composed entirely of elementary geometric shapes: circle (sun and moon), triangle (mountains and trees), and square (sacred enclosure). Illustrates collective village rituals like the Tarpa dance.
• Pattachitra (Odisha & West Bengal): Ancient cloth-based scroll painting (*Patta* = canvas/cloth, *Chitra* = picture). Prepared by treating cotton cloth with chalk and tamarind seed paste. Depicts themes from the Jagannath cult, Gita Govinda, and Krishna Leela. The artisans are known as *Chitrakars* in the heritage craft village of Raghurajpur (Puri).
• Kalamkari (Andhra Pradesh): Literally means 'pen craft' (*Kalam* = pen, *Kari* = craftsmanship). Two famous styles: Srikalahasti style (religious themes hand-drawn using a sharp bamboo pen) and Machilipatnam style (block-printed textiles using vegetable dyes).
• Phad Painting (Rajasthan): Long horizontal narrative scroll paintings (up to 30 feet long) on canvas, portraying the heroic deeds of folk deities Pabuji and Devnarayan, traditionally carried and recited by wandering bard priests called *Bhopas*.
• Thangka Painting (Sikkim, Ladakh, Himachal): Sacred Tibetan Buddhist scroll paintings rendered on cotton or silk appliqué, depicting Lord Buddha, mandalas, and Buddhist deities used as meditation aids.
• Tanjore (Thanjavur) Painting (Tamil Nadu): Flourished under Maratha rulers in the 18th century. Characterized by dense compositions, gold leaf foil (22-carat), and embedded glittering glass beads or semi-precious gems depicting child Krishna and deities.

• January Harvest Festivities (Makar Sankranti Season): Celebrated across India with diverse regional names to mark the sun entering the zodiac sign of Capricorn (*Makara*):
  • Pongal (Tamil Nadu): 4-day harvest thanksgiving: Bhogi Pongal (burning old household items), Thai Pongal (boiling fresh harvest rice and milk in clay pots until it overflows, shouting 'Pongalo Pongal!'), Mattu Pongal (honoring cattle), and Kaanum Pongal (family reunions).
  • Lohri (Punjab): Bonfire festival on the eve of Sankranti marking the culmination of winter and harvesting of Rabi sugarcane/wheat crops.
  • Magh Bihu / Bhogali Bihu (Assam): Community feasting around bonfires called Meji and thatched huts called Bhelaghar.
• Spring & New Year Harvest Festivals:
  • Baisakhi (Punjab): Celebrates the harvesting of Rabi wheat crops and commemorates the establishment of the Khalsa Panth by 10th Sikh Guru Gobind Singh in 1699.
  • Bohag Bihu / Rongali Bihu (Assam): Celebrates the arrival of spring and Assamese New Year (mid-April).
  • Vishu (Kerala): Malayalam New Year; auspicious first sight in the morning is the Vishukkani (mirror, yellow Kani Konna flowers, raw rice, coins) followed by cash gifts (*Vishukkaineetam*).
  • Ugadi (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka): New Year marked by eating Ugadi Pachadi, which incorporates 6 tastes (*Shadruchulu*: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent, astringent) symbolizing life's diverse emotions.
  • Gudi Padwa (Maharashtra): Marathi New Year marked by hoisting a colorful silk cloth crowned with a silver/copper pot (*Gudi*) on window sills.
• Monsoon & Autumn Harvest Festivals:
  • Onam (Kerala): 10-day grand harvest festival commemorating the homecoming of mythical King Mahabali. Famous for intricate flower carpets (*Pookkalam*), the grand 26-dish vegetarian banquet (*Onasadya*), and the thrilling Snake Boat Race (*Vallamkali*) on Pampa river.
  • Hornbill Festival (Nagaland): Celebrated every year from 1 to 10 December at Naga Heritage Village in Kisama (near Kohima). Known as the 'Festival of Festivals', it unites all 16 Naga tribes to showcase their warrior dances, music, and crafts.

• Ajanta & Ellora Caves (Maharashtra): Located near Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar). Ajanta has 30 rock-cut Buddhist caves famous for fresco mural paintings depicting Jataka tales. Ellora features 34 caves (Buddhist, Hindu, Jain) headlined by the colossal monolithic Kailasa Temple (Cave 16), chiseled from top-to-bottom out of a single basalt cliff face by Rashtrakuta King Krishna I.
• Sun Temple, Konark (Odisha): 13th-century monument constructed by King Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga dynasty. Conceived as a colossal chariot of the Sun God Surya, featuring 24 intricately carved stone wheels (functioning as sun-dials) pulled by 7 stone horses. Nicknamed the 'Black Pagoda' by European sailors.
• Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur (Tamil Nadu): Constructed in 1010 CE by Emperor Rajaraja Chola I. Dedicated to Lord Shiva; features an 80-tonne monolithic granite cupola capstone atop a 216-foot tower (*Vimana*). Part of the UNESCO Great Living Chola Temples.
• Khajuraho Group of Monuments (Madhya Pradesh): Built between 950 and 1050 CE by the Chandela dynasty. Supreme examples of the Nagara architectural style. The largest temple is the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple.
• Great Stupa at Sanchi (Madhya Pradesh): Commissioned in the 3rd century BCE by Mauryan Emperor Ashoka over relics of the Buddha. Features four grand ceremonial gateways (*Toranas*) covered with high-relief narrative carvings.
• Hampi Monuments (Karnataka): Ruins of the capital of the medieval Vijayanagara Empire (founded in 1336 by Harihara and Bukka) along the Tungabhadra River. Renowned for the monolithic Stone Chariot in the Vittala Temple and the musical pillars.
• Qutub Minar (New Delhi): World's tallest brick minaret (height: 72.5 meters). Commissioned by Qutb-ud-din Aibak in 1199 CE and completed by his successor Iltutmish. The adjacent 4th-century iron pillar from the Gupta period has not rusted in 1,600 years.
• Taj Mahal (Agra, Uttar Pradesh): Mughal architectural masterpiece built in pristine white Makrana marble on the banks of Yamuna by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his empress Mumtaz Mahal (chief architect: Ustad Ahmad Lahori).

• Two Major Systems:
  • Hindustani Classical Music: Prevalent across Northern India; enriched by ancient Vedic chants and Persian-Arab melodic influences. Core vocal genres: Dhrupad, Khayal, and Tarana.
  • Carnatic Classical Music: Prevalent across Southern India (Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala); strictly indigenous system oriented around Hindu devotional compositions (*Kritis*). Revered Trinity of Carnatic Music: Tyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshitar, and Syama Sastri.
• Iconic Indian Instruments & Legendary Maestros:
  • Sitar: Pandit Ravi Shankar (Bharat Ratna, popularized Indian classical music globally).
  • Sarod: Ustad Amjad Ali Khan (descendant of the Senia Bangash gharana).
  • Shehnai: Ustad Bismillah Khan (Bharat Ratna; played shehnai from the ramparts of the Red Fort on 15 August 1947).
  • Tabla: Ustad Zakir Hussain and his father Ustad Alla Rakha.
  • Flute (Bansuri): Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia (bamboo flute virtuoso).
  • Santoor: Pandit Shivkumar Sharma (transformed the 100-stringed Kashmiri folk instrument into a classical centerpiece).
  • Veena: Ancient stringed instrument associated with Goddess Saraswati; maestros: E. Gayathri, Chitti Babu.
  • Carnatic Vocal Pioneer: M. S. Subbulakshmi (the first musician ever to be awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1998).