Question Discussion & Solution

The correct answer is Aravali.

Key Points

• Aravalli Range, hill system of northern India, running northeasterly for 350 miles (560 km) through Rajasthan state.
• Isolated rocky offshoots continue to just south of Delhi.
• The system is divided into two sections-
  • the Sambhar-Sirohi ranges, taller and including Guru Peak on Mount Abu, the highest peak in the Aravalli Range (5,650 feet [1,722 meters]). 
  • The Sambhar-Khetri ranges, consisting of three ridges that are discontinuous.
  • It gives rise to several rivers, including the Banas, Luni, Sakhi, and Sabarmati. 
• Hrishikesh- 
  • Rishikesh has long been a spiritual center. It is said that the sage Raibhya Rishi did severe penance here and as a reward, God appeared to him in the form of Hrishikesh, hence the name.
  • Rishikesh, a most tranquil place in northern Uttarakhand, surrounded by hills and bisected by the wide and sluggish Ganges, is often claimed as the `Yoga Capital of the World’.
• Taragarh-
  • Ajmer is surrounded by the Aravali Hills.
  • Situated in the center of the state of Rajasthan on the lower slopes of Taragarh hill.
• Jarga-
  • Gogunda has an undulating and rocky topography with high and low hills.
  • The important hills in the area are- 
    • Dholio Dungar.
    • Jeliyo Dungar. 
    • Jarga hills.
  • Jarga hill is the second highest peak of Rajasthan after Mount Abu.

The correct answer is Ghoomar.

Key Points

• Ghoomar dance
  • ​Ghoomar is a traditional folk dance of Rajasthan and is performed by women.
  • It is the official dance of Rajasthan State.
  • It is a traditional folk dance of the Bhil tribe.
  • It is performed to worship Goddess Sarasvati which was later embraced by other Rajasthani communities.
  • Ghoomar became popular in the Indian state of Rajasthan during the reigns of Rajput kings.

Additional Information

The correct answer is Hanumangarh.

Key Points

• The fair of Gogamedi is celebrated in the memory of Gogaji, who was considered a snake king.
• Gogaji, also known as Jahar Veer Goga, was a folk idol of Rajasthan in India.
• He was a warrior-hero of the region, recognized as a saint and a 'snake - god'.
• The majestic fair of Gogaji is held at his birthplace and Samadhi sthala which is called Gogamedi.
• Gogamedi is located in a quiet a far distance from Jaipur, in the Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan.
• The royal fair of Gogaji is held at his birthplace and mausoleum called Gogamedi.
• The fair is held from the ninth day of the dark half of Bhadra popularly known as Goga Navami to the eleventh day of the dark half of the same month.
• Dadrewa is a common sight to see people with snakes lying around their necks.
• It is a common belief among devotees that Gogaji will protect them from snakes.

Additional Information

• Baneshwar fair is an annual tribal fair held in the Dungarpur district in the Rajasthan state of India.​
• The Jaisalmer Desert Festival is an annual event that takes place in February month in the beautiful city of Jaisalmer.

The correct answer is Kathak.

Key Points

• The word Kathak has been derived from the word Katha which means a story.
• Kathakars or storytellers are people who narrate stories largely based on episodes from the epics, myths and legends.
• Three specific forms of this genre that is three Gharanas (schools), which mostly differ in the emphasis given to footwork versus acting, are more famous names, the Jaipur Gharana, the Benaras Gharana and the Lucknow Gharana.
• One name that has almost become famous in modern-day Kathak dance is Pandit Birju Maharaj, a scion of the legendary Maharaj family and son of Acchan Maharaj.
• He is considered the leading advocate of the Lucknow Kalka-Bindadin Gharana.
• Sitara Devi was also another star of this dance form described as Nritya Samragini that is the empress of dance by Rabindranath Tagore and she continues to retain her Kathak Queen title even after death.
• Other eminent Kathak artists include Roshan Kumari, Shovana Narayan, Maya Rao and Kumudini Lakhia.​

Additional Information

• Kathakali:
  • ​Kathakali is a dance mainly performed in Kerala.
  • It is an art that has evolved from many social and religious theatrical forms which existed in the southern region in ancient times. Chakiarkoothu, Koodiyattam, Krishnattam andRamanattam are a few of the ritual performing arts of Kerala.
• Kuchipudi
  • Kuchipudi is one of the classical styles of Indian dance.
  • Around the third and fourth decade of this century, it emerged out of a long rich tradition of dance-drama of the same name.
  • Kuchipudi is the name of a village in the Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh.
  • It is about 35 km. from Vijayawada.
  • Andhra has a very long tradition of dance-drama which was known under the generic name of Yakshagaana.
• Bharatnatyam
  • Bharatnatyam Dance is considered to be over 2000 years old.
  • Several texts beginning with Bharata Muni's Natya Shastra (200 B.C.E. to 200 C.E.) provide information on this dance form. 
  • It is mainly performed in Tamil Nadu in southern India.

The correct answer is South Rajasthan.

• South Rajasthan part of Rajasthan has an abundance of 'red loam' soil.

Key Points

• Red loam soil
  • ​These soils are reddish in color with a granular/crumb structure & well-drained.
  • These soils have rich content of iron oxide and devoid of calcium salts.
  • Soils are suitable for maize, chilies, wheat, barley, and rapeseed cultivation.
  • The parent material of these soils is the red sandstone or yellow sandstone which is found in Vindyan rocks.
  • It is found in Dungarpur, Banswara & parts of Udaipur, Chittorgarh.

Additional Information

• Soil in Rajasthan
  • Western Rajasthan
    • Desert Soils are found in Western Rajasthan. 
    • This soil is found in most of the areas of Jalore, Barmer, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Nagaur districts, etc. 
  • Eastern Plain
    • Alluvial soil is prominently deposited in the northeast region of our state.
    • The soil is deficient in lime, phosphoric acid, and humus.
  • Hadoti Plateau
    • ​Black soil is found predominantly in the south-East Hadouti region.