Art, Culture & Festivals — Set 9

Correct Answer: C. Jachcha geet (birth songs)

Jachcha geet (or Chhathi geet) are folk songs sung by women to celebrate the birth of a child in Haryana. Different songs are sung for the birth of a boy versus a girl, at different stages from the announcement of birth to the sixth-day ceremony (Chhathi). Lori are lullabies sung to put babies to sleep. Both Jachcha geet and Lori are part of the rich oral folk music tradition of Haryana that documents life-cycle events through song.

Correct Answer: B. Houses artifacts from the three Battles of Panipat and Haryana history

Panipat Museum (Kala Amb Memorial) is dedicated to preserving artifacts, paintings, weapons, and documents related to the three famous Battles of Panipat (1526, 1556, 1761) and the broader history of Haryana. The museum tells the story of how Panipat became a decisive battlefield that shaped Indian history multiple times. Kala Amb (Black Mango) is the traditional name for the memorial built by Ahmad Shah Abdali after the Third Battle of Panipat. The museum is an important cultural-historical institution in Haryana.

Correct Answer: B. Bandhani/Bandhej tie-and-dye tradition practiced in Hisar-Bhiwani belt

Bandhani (Bandhej/tie-and-dye) is a textile tradition practiced in parts of Haryana, especially the Hisar and Bhiwani belt close to the Rajasthani border. Fabric is tied in tiny knots before dyeing to create intricate dot patterns when the knots are opened. While Rajasthan and Gujarat are the primary centers for Bandhani, Haryana's bordering districts have their own local traditions. Haryana artisans also produce Durries (cotton flat-woven rugs) which are an important craft product.

Correct Answer: B. The Maskhara — a comedian character in Saang who entertains the audience with jokes between serious scenes

Maskhara is the comedian character in Haryanvi Saang folk theater who entertains the audience with jokes, satire, and comic interludes between the serious dramatic scenes. The Maskhara uses local dialect, humor, and audience interaction to keep the energy high during the performance. Good Maskhara artists are highly valued in Saang companies for their ability to connect with audiences. The Maskhara tradition also serves a social commentary function through comic satire.

Correct Answer: B. November 1

Haryana Day (Haryana Diwas) is celebrated on November 1 every year, commemorating the formation of Haryana as a separate state from Punjab on November 1, 1966. The day is celebrated with cultural programs, parades, and public events across the state. The first Chief Minister Bhagwat Dayal Sharma and Governor Vishnu Sahay led the newly formed state in 1966. The formation was on linguistic grounds — Hindi-speaking areas were carved out of Punjab to form Haryana.

Correct Answer: B. GI tag protects the authentic hand-done Phulkari from mass-produced imitations and ensures artisan livelihoods

The GI (Geographical Indication) tag for Phulkari protects the authentic hand-embroidered Phulkari from mass-produced machine-made imitations, ensuring that only genuine Phulkari from the traditional belt (Haryana and Punjab) can use the name. This protects the livelihoods of artisans who practice this centuries-old tradition. The GI tag also raises international recognition for Phulkari as a unique cultural product. Haryana government has been promoting Phulkari artisans through training programs and market linkages under National Livelihood Mission.

Correct Answer: A. Kurukshetra

While the most famous Dhrupad Ashram is associated with the Dagar family of Bhopal/Vrindavan, Kurukshetra University and associated cultural institutions in Haryana have been promoters of classical Dhrupad music given the region's Vedic heritage. Haryana's proximity to Mathura-Vrindavan has influenced its classical music traditions. Several classical musicians have been associated with Haryana universities and the promotion of Dhrupad, Khayal, and other classical forms through university education.

Correct Answer: B. The giving away of the bride by her father to the groom — the most sacred ritual in Hindu marriage

Kanyadaan (the giving of a daughter/kanya as a dan/gift) is considered the most sacred ritual in a Hindu wedding ceremony where the father (or uncle/guardian) places the bride's hand into the groom's hand, symbolizing the formal transfer of the bride to her new family. In Haryanvi tradition, this is accompanied by specific Vedic mantras and folk songs. The concept of Kanyadaan is deeply embedded in Haryanvi social culture and marriage rituals across all Hindu communities in the state.

Correct Answer: B. Bhang consumption and Shiva worship with folk songs and Jagran

Mahashivratri in Haryana is celebrated with great enthusiasm, particularly at Shiva temples like Sthaneshwar Mahadev (Kurukshetra) and local Shiva temples. Traditional celebrations include all-night Jagran (vigil) with devotional songs, consumption of Bhang (cannabis preparation considered sacred to Shiva), and folk performances by Sanyasis. The celebration combines religious devotion with folk cultural traditions specific to Haryana's Shaiva worship traditions. Haryana has a strong tradition of Shiva worship, especially in the Kurukshetra belt.

Correct Answer: A. Wedding under a Neem tree — a folk tradition for proxy marriage

Neem ki Nikahi (marriage under a Neem tree) is a folk tradition in parts of Haryana where a proxy marriage ceremony is performed under a Neem tree when the actual groom cannot be present (due to his death or absence). The tradition has been used historically to ensure that women are not considered unmarried widows. This practice has been controversial and has been associated with child marriage concerns. The tradition reflects the complex interplay of folk customs, social norms, and legal realities in rural Haryana.