UPSC Prelims 2009 Q18: Art & Culture – Festivals, Crafts & Folk Traditions
Consider the following pairs:
Tradition - State
1. Gatka, a traditional martial art : Kerala
2. Madhubani, a traditional painting : Bihar
3. Singhye Khababs Sindhu Darshan Festival : Jammu and Kashmir
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 3 only
- (c) 2 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (c) 2 and 3 only
Explanation
Checking three tradition-state pairs
These cultural traditions are each associated with specific Indian states, with one pairing here mismatched.
| Pair | Verdict | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Gatka (martial art) : Kerala | Incorrect | Gatka is a traditional Sikh/Punjabi martial art, associated with Punjab, not Kerala |
| 2. Madhubani painting : Bihar | Correct | Madhubani painting is indeed a traditional art form of Bihar |
| 3. Sindhu Darshan Festival : Jammu and Kashmir | Correct | The Sindhu Darshan Festival is celebrated in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, honouring the Indus River |
Correct tradition-state pairs:
| Tradition | State |
|---|---|
| Gatka | Punjab (NOT Kerala) |
| Madhubani painting | Bihar |
| Sindhu Darshan Festival | Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh) |
Answer: (c) 2 and 3 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Pair 1 (Gatka-Kerala) is wrongly matched; Gatka belongs to Punjab, so '1 and 2 only' is wrong.
- (b) Incorrect. Pair 2 (Madhubani-Bihar) is also correctly matched, so '3 only' is incomplete.
- (c) CORRECT. Pairs 2 and 3 — Madhubani-Bihar and Sindhu Darshan Festival-J&K — are accurately matched; pair 1 wrongly places Gatka in Kerala instead of Punjab.
- (d) Incorrect. Pair 1's Kerala attribution for Gatka is wrong, so 'all three' cannot be correct.
Key point
Madhubani painting-Bihar and Sindhu Darshan Festival-Jammu & Kashmir (Ladakh) are correctly matched — but Gatka is a Punjabi/Sikh martial art, NOT associated with Kerala.
Remember
Madhubani painting-Bihar and Sindhu Darshan Festival-J&K are correct; Gatka belongs to Punjab, not Kerala.
Common mistakes
- Confusing Gatka's actual Punjab origin with an unrelated state like Kerala.
- Not knowing Sindhu Darshan Festival's specific Ladakh (J&K) location.
- Assuming all three listed tradition-state pairs are automatically correct without individual verification.
Exam tip
Gatka = Punjab (Sikh martial art), NOT Kerala. Madhubani-Bihar and Sindhu Darshan-J&K are both correctly matched.
Sources
- Sangeet Natak Akademi — Traditional martial arts of India: Gatka (Punjab)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — Madhubani painting