The document provides a comprehensive overview of India's performing arts, including classical dance forms like Bharatanatyam, Kathak, and Odissi, as well as traditional music styles such as Hindustani and Carnatic. It highlights the cultural significance and regional variations of various art forms, including visual arts and folk performances. Through this exploration, it underscores the rich heritage and diverse influence of Indian performing arts on both national and global cultures.

1. Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP) - 1st Semester
Understanding India ( Indian Ethos and Knowledge
System ) - 1
By - Shivani Chauhan
Research Scholar
MDU, Rohtak
Unit- 2 Culture-Art and Literature
Topic : Performing Arts भारतीय प्रदर्शन
कला
Useful for B.A.B.Ed, B.Com.B.Ed, and B.Sc.B.Ed.

2. CONTENT
• INDIAN DANCE SYSTEMS
• TRADITIONAL INDIAN PIECES OF MUSIC
• VISUAL ARTS
• FOLK ARTS
• INDIAN THEATRE

3. INTRODUCTION
• THE PERFORMING ARTS OF INDIA ARE RICH, DIVERSE, AND DEEPLY EMBEDDED IN THE
COUNTRY'S CULTURAL FABRIC.
• THEY ENCOMPASS A WIDE RANGE OF ART FORMS, INCLUDING VARIOUS DANCE SYSTEMS,
TRADITIONAL MUSIC, FOLK ARTS, AND VISUAL ARTS.

4. INDIAN DANCE SYSTEMS
• INDIAN CLASSICAL DANCE IS A VITAL PART OF
INDIA'S CULTURAL HERITAGE AND IS
CATEGORIZED INTO SEVERAL DISTINCT STYLES.
• EACH STYLE HAS ITS OWN TECHNIQUES,
FORMS, AND REGIONAL INFLUENCES.
• THE CLASSICAL DANCES ARE ROOTED IN
RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL PRACTICES AND ARE
OFTEN ACCOMPANIED BY MUSIC AND
STORYTELLING.

5. INDIAN DANCE SYSTEMS
•Bharatanatyam (Tamil Nadu)
•One of the oldest classical dance forms,
Bharatanatyam involves graceful movements,
facial expressions, and intricate footwork.
• It is traditionally performed as a solo dance
that tells mythological stories through gestures
and expressions.

6. QUESTION
• WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING IS CONSIDERED
THE OLDEST CLASSICAL DANCE FORM OF
INDIA?
• A) KATHAK
• B) BHARATANATYAM
• C) ODISSI
• D) KUCHIPUDI

7. INDIAN DANCE SYSTEMS
•Kathak (North India, especially Uttar
Pradesh)
•Kathak is known for its storytelling through
intricate footwork, spins, and expressive facial
gestures.
•Originally from the temples of Northern India,
it incorporates both Hindu and Mughal
influences.

8. INDIAN DANCE SYSTEMS
• KATHAKALI (KERALA)
• KATHAKALI IS A HIGHLY STYLIZED CLASSICAL
DANCE-DRAMA NOTED FOR ITS ELABORATE
COSTUMES, INTRICATE MAKEUP, AND VIBRANT
STORYTELLING.
• PERFORMERS USE FACIAL EXPRESSIONS, HAND
GESTURES, AND BODY MOVEMENTS TO DEPICT
STORIES FROM HINDU EPICS LIKE THE
RAMAYANA AND MAHABHARATA.

9. INDIAN DANCE SYSTEMS
• KUCHIPUDI (ANDHRA PRADESH)
• KUCHIPUDI BLENDS DANCE, DRAMA, AND
MUSIC. IT IS FAMOUS FOR ITS FLUID
MOVEMENTS, GRACEFUL EXPRESSIONS, AND
STORYTELLING.
• IT IS ALSO PERFORMED IN TEMPLES AND
OCCASIONALLY IN THEATERS.

10. QUESTION
• THE CLASSICAL DANCE FORM 'KATHAK'
ORIGINATED IN WHICH PART OF INDIA?
• A) SOUTH INDIA
• B) WEST INDIA
• C) NORTH INDIA
• D) EAST INDIA

11. QUESTION
• IN WHICH STATE IS THE DANCE FORM
'KATHAKALI' MOST PROMINENTLY
PERFORMED?
• A) KERALA
• B) TAMIL NADU
• C) KARNATAKA
• D) RAJASTHAN

12. QUESTION
• WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING DANCE FORMS IS
KNOWN FOR ITS INTRICATE FOOTWORK AND
SPINS (CHAKKARS)?
• A) KUCHIPUDI
• B) KATHAK
• C) ODISSI
• D) MOHINIYATTAM

13. INDIAN DANCE SYSTEMS
• MANIPURI (MANIPUR)
• THIS DANCE FORM IS CHARACTERIZED BY
GRACEFUL, SOFT MOVEMENTS AND RHYTHMIC
FOOTWORK.
• IT IS CLOSELY TIED TO THE WORSHIP OF THE
HINDU GODS, PARTICULARLY IN THE CONTEXT
OF THE RAS LILA, WHICH PORTRAYS STORIES
OF LORD KRISHNA AND RADHA.

14. INDIAN DANCE SYSTEMS
• ODISSI (ODISHA)
• ODISSI IS KNOWN FOR ITS FLUID, CIRCULAR
MOVEMENTS AND THE USE OF THE TORSO TO
EXPRESS THEMES OF DEVOTION AND LOVE.
• IT HAS A DISTINCTIVE "TRIBHANGA" POSE
(THREE BENDS OF THE BODY), AND ITS ORIGINS
ARE TRACED TO THE TEMPLES OF ODISHA.

15. INDIAN DANCE SYSTEMS
• MOHINIYATTAM (KERALA)
• A DANCE THAT CELEBRATES THE FEMININE AND
GRACEFUL ASPECTS OF INDIAN CULTURE,
MOHINIYATTAM IS KNOWN FOR ITS SLOW,
CONTROLLED MOVEMENTS AND SENSUOUS
EXPRESSIONS.
• IT OFTEN DEPICTS THEMES OF LOVE AND
DEVOTION.

16. QUESTION
• THE CLASSICAL DANCE FORM 'MANIPURI' IS
PRIMARILY ASSOCIATED WITH WHICH OF THE
FOLLOWING?
• A) LOVE STORIES OF LORD KRISHNA AND
RADHA
• B) DEVOTIONAL OFFERINGS TO LORD SHIVA
• C) STORIES FROM THE RAMAYANA
• D) ROYAL COURT PERFORMANCES

17. INDIAN DANCE SYSTEMS
• SATTRIYA (ASSAM)
• ORIGINATING IN THE VAISHNAVITE
MONASTERIES OF ASSAM, SATTRIYA IS A BLEND
OF DANCE, MUSIC, AND DRAMA.
• IT INCORPORATES BOTH SOLO AND GROUP
PERFORMANCES AND IS A FORM OF SPIRITUAL
EXPRESSION.

18. FOLK AND REGIONAL DANCE FORMS:
• IN ADDITION TO THE CLASSICAL DANCE FORMS,
INDIA ALSO HAS NUMEROUS FOLK DANCES,
EACH REFLECTING THE REGIONAL CULTURE AND
TRADITIONS.
• BHANGRA (PUNJAB)
• GARBA (GUJARAT)
• LAVANI (MAHARASHTRA)
• DANDIYA RAAS (GUJARAT)
• GHOOMAR (RAJASTHAN)
• CHHAU (ODISHA, JHARKHAND, AND WEST
BENGAL)

19. TRADITIONAL INDIAN MUSIC
• INDIAN MUSIC IS DIVIDED INTO TWO PRIMARY TRADITIONS: HINDUSTANI CLASSICAL MUSIC (NORTH INDIAN)
AND CARNATIC CLASSICAL MUSIC (SOUTH INDIAN).
• BOTH TRADITIONS ARE BASED ON RAGAS (MELODIC FRAMEWORKS) AND TALAS (RHYTHMIC CYCLES).
• HINDUSTANI CLASSICAL MUSIC (NORTH INDIA)
• RAGA: A RAGA IS A TRADITIONAL INDIAN MUSIC
• LODIC STRUCTURE USED FOR IMPROVISATION, DESIGNED TO EVOKE PARTICULAR EMOTIONS OR MOODS.
COMMON RAGAS INCLUDE RAGA YAMAN, RAGA BHAIRAV, AND RAGA HAMSADHWANI.
• TALA: THE RHYTHMIC PATTERN IN HINDUSTANI MUSIC. POPULAR TALAS INCLUDE TEENTAAL (16 BEATS),
JHAPTAAL (10 BEATS), AND EKTAAL (12 BEATS).
• INSTRUMENTS: KEY INSTRUMENTS INCLUDE THE SITAR, TABLA, SAROD, SANTOOR, FLUTE, AND HARMONIUM.

20. TRADITIONAL INDIAN MUSIC
• CARNATIC CLASSICAL MUSIC (SOUTH INDIA)
• RAGA: CARNATIC MUSIC ALSO REVOLVES AROUND RAGAS, BUT IT PLACES MORE EMPHASIS
ON FIXED COMPOSITIONS AND IS KNOWN FOR ITS INTRICATE STRUCTURES.
• TALA: COMPLEX AND VARIED RHYTHMIC CYCLES, SUCH AS ADI TALA (8 BEATS) AND RUPAKA
TALA (6 BEATS).
• INSTRUMENTS: PROMINENT INSTRUMENTS INCLUDE THE VEENA, MRIDANGAM, VIOLIN,
AND FLUTE.

21. TRADITIONAL INDIAN MUSIC
• FOLK MUSIC & POPULAR MUSIC
• BHAJAN: DEVOTIONAL SONGS, OFTEN SUNG IN PRAISE OF HINDU DEITIES. THEY ARE COMMON
ACROSS INDIA, PARTICULARLY IN TEMPLES.
• QAWWALI: A FORM OF SUFI DEVOTIONAL MUSIC POPULAR IN NORTH INDIA, CHARACTERIZED BY ITS
EMOTIONAL DEPTH AND GROUP SINGING.
• BHANGRA MUSIC: A FAST-PACED AND RHYTHMICALLY VIBRANT FORM OF MUSIC FROM PUNJAB,
TYPICALLY ACCOMPANIED BY TRADITIONAL INSTRUMENTS LIKE THE DHOL (DRUM).
• LORI: A TRADITIONAL LULLABY SUNG TO SOOTHE BABIES, PARTICULARLY IN THE PUNJAB REGION.

22. QUESTION
• WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING IS A KEY CHARACTERISTIC
OF HINDUSTANI CLASSICAL MUSIC?
• A) FIXED COMPOSITIONS
• B) EMPHASIS ON IMPROVISATION BASED ON RAGAS
• C) STRICT USE OF WESTERN SCALES
• D) USE OF MAJOR AND MINOR CHORDS

23. QUESTION
• WHAT IS THE PRIMARY RHYTHM CYCLE USED IN
HINDUSTANI CLASSICAL MUSIC?
• A) RAGA
• B) TALA
• C) SHRUTI
• D) LAYA
• WHICH INSTRUMENT IS NOT COMMONLY USED IN
CARNATIC CLASSICAL MUSIC?
• A) VEENA
• B) MRIDANGAM
• C) SAROD
• D) VIOLIN

24. QUESTION
• WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING IS A POPULAR DEVOTIONAL
MUSIC FORM OF SUFI ORIGIN IN NORTH INDIA?
• A) BHAJAN
• B) QAWWALI
• C) DHRUPAD
• D) THUMRI

25. VISUAL ARTS
• INDIAN VISUAL ARTS ARE VAST AND DIVERSE, RANGING FROM ANCIENT TEMPLE ART TO CONTEMPORARY FORMS. THEY OFTEN CARRY
SPIRITUAL AND CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE.
• TRADITIONAL VISUAL ARTS:
• MADHUBANI (BIHAR): A TRADITIONAL FOLK ART CHARACTERIZED BY INTRICATE PATTERNS AND VIBRANT COLORS, OFTEN DEPICTING
NATURE, RELIGIOUS THEMES, AND FOLKLORE.
• WARLI (MAHARASHTRA): A TRIBAL ART FORM THAT USES SIMPLE, GEOMETRIC SHAPES AND MOTIFS TO DEPICT DAILY LIFE AND NATURE.
• TANJORE PAINTING (TAMIL NADU): KNOWN FOR ITS RICH COLORS AND SURFACE TEXTURE, TANJORE PAINTINGS OFTEN FEATURE DEITIES
AND ARE HIGHLIGHTED WITH GOLD FOIL.
• PATTACHITRA (ODISHA): A TRADITIONAL ART FORM THAT INVOLVES INTRICATE DETAILING AND STORYTELLING THROUGH PAINTINGS,
USUALLY ON CLOTH OR PALM LEAVES.
• MINIATURE PAINTINGS: THESE INCLUDE THE MUGHAL, RAJPUT, AND PAHARI STYLES, KNOWN FOR THEIR SMALL, DETAILED, AND COLORFUL
DEPICTIONS OF ROYAL COURTS, HISTORICAL EVENTS, AND RELIGIOUS SUBJECTS.
• SCULPTURE AND ARCHITECTURE:
• TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE: INDIAN TEMPLES, LIKE THE KAILASA TEMPLE AT ELLORA AND THE MEENAKSHI TEMPLE IN MADURAI, ARE KNOWN
FOR THEIR INTRICATE SCULPTURES AND GRAND ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNS.
• BUDDHIST ART: THE AJANTA AND ELLORA CAVES IN MAHARASHTRA ARE FAMOUS FOR THEIR ANCIENT BUDDHIST MURALS AND
SCULPTURES.

26. QUESTION
• WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING IS A TRADITIONAL PAINTING
STYLE FROM THE STATE OF BIHAR?
• A) PATTACHITRA
• B) MADHUBANI
• C) WARLI
• D) TANJORE
• THE 'TANJORE PAINTING' STYLE ORIGINATED IN WHICH
STATE OF INDIA?
• A) TAMIL NADU
• B) ODISHA
• C) MAHARASHTRA
• D) UTTAR PRADESH

27. QUESTION
• WHICH TRADITIONAL INDIAN ART FORM USES INTRICATE
GEOMETRIC PATTERNS AND DEPICTS NATURE AND DAILY
LIFE, AND IS PRACTICED BY THE TRIBAL COMMUNITY OF
MAHARASHTRA?
• A) WARLI PAINTING
• B) MADHUBANI PAINTING
• C) KALIGHAT PAINTING
• D) KANGRA PAINTING

28. FOLK ARTS AND PERFORMANCES
• INDIAN FOLK ART AND PERFORMANCES ARE CLOSELY TIED TO REGIONAL TRADITIONS, COMMUNITY LIFE,
AND CELEBRATIONS. THEY ARE OFTEN PASSED DOWN THROUGH GENERATIONS AND SERVE AS AN
EXPRESSION OF LOCAL CULTURE.
• RAMLILA (NORTH INDIA): A THEATRICAL PERFORMANCE THAT RE-ENACTS THE LIFE OF LORD RAMA FROM THE
RAMAYANA. IT IS PERFORMED ANNUALLY DURING THE FESTIVAL OF DUSSEHRA.
• YAKSHAGANA (KARNATAKA): A TRADITIONAL DANCE-DRAMA THAT COMBINES DANCE, MUSIC, AND
DIALOGUE TO DEPICT STORIES FROM THE EPICS. IT IS PARTICULARLY POPULAR IN COASTAL KARNATAKA.
• THEYYAM (KERALA): A FORM OF RITUALISTIC DANCE PERFORMED TO HONOR GODS AND SPIRITS. THE
PERFORMERS OFTEN WEAR ELABORATE COSTUMES AND MASKS AND ACT AS A MEDIUM FOR DIVINE SPIRITS.
• BHAONA (ASSAM): A TRADITIONAL ONE-ACT PLAY FROM ASSAM, OFTEN PERFORMED IN VAISHNAVITE
MONASTERIES. IT COMBINES ELEMENTS OF DRAMA, MUSIC, AND DANCE.

29. QUESTION
• THE DANCE FORM 'BHANGRA' IS TRADITIONALLY
PERFORMED IN WHICH STATE OF INDIA?
• A) PUNJAB
• B) MAHARASHTRA
• C) KERALA
• D) RAJASTHAN
• WHICH TRADITIONAL FOLK DANCE INVOLVES CLAPPING AND
TWIRLING IN A CIRCLE, AND IS COMMONLY PERFORMED
DURING THE FESTIVAL OF NAVRATRI?
• A) GARBA
• B) BHANGRA
• C) KUCHIPUDI
• D) LAVANI

30. THEATRE AND DRAMA
• INDIAN THEATRE HAS A LONG HISTORY, FROM ITS ANCIENT RELIGIOUS RITUALS TO MODERN-DAY
THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS. TRADITIONAL THEATRE OFTEN INTEGRATES MUSIC, DANCE, AND DIALOGUE.
• NAUTANKI (NORTH INDIA): A FOLK THEATER FORM THAT IS MELODRAMATIC, OFTEN FEATURING MUSIC AND
DANCE. IT HAS A STRONG NARRATIVE FOCUS, DEALING WITH THEMES OF ROMANCE, MORALITY, AND
HEROISM.
• BENGALI THEATRE: KNOWN FOR ITS INTELLECTUAL AND LITERARY CONTENT, BENGALI THEATRE INCLUDES
WORKS BY GREAT PLAYWRIGHTS LIKE RABINDRANATH TAGORE.
• KUTIYATTAM (KERALA): ONE OF THE OLDEST SURVIVING THEATRICAL TRADITIONS IN INDIA, KUTIYATTAM IS A
SANSKRIT THEATRE FORM THAT INTEGRATES DANCE, DRAMA, AND MUSIC.

31. QUESTION
• WHICH TRADITIONAL INDIAN THEATRE FORM INVOLVES A
COMBINATION OF DANCE, MUSIC, AND DIALOGUES, AND
ORIGINATED FROM KERALA?
• A) KATHAKALI
• B) NATYA SHASTRA
• C) SATTRIYA
• D) KUTIYATTAM
• WHO IS CONSIDERED THE FATHER OF MODERN INDIAN
THEATRE?
• A) RABINDRANATH TAGORE
• B) VIJAY TENDULKAR
• C) BANSI KAUL
• D) PRITHVIRAJ KAPOOR

32. CONCLUSION
• INDIAN PERFORMING ARTS ARE A FUSION OF SPIRITUAL, CULTURAL, AND SOCIAL TRADITIONS, OFFERING A
GLIMPSE INTO THE DIVERSE AND RICH HERITAGE OF THE COUNTRY.
• WHETHER THROUGH CLASSICAL DANCES LIKE BHARATANATYAM AND KATHAK, THE DEVOTIONAL MELODIES
OF HINDUSTANI AND CARNATIC MUSIC, OR THE INTRICATE DESIGNS OF TRADITIONAL VISUAL ARTS LIKE
MADHUBANI AND TANJORE, INDIA'S PERFORMING ARTS CONTINUE TO INSPIRE AND INFLUENCE GLOBAL
CULTURE, PRESERVING ANCIENT TRADITIONS WHILE EVOLVING IN CONTEMPORARY SETTINGS.