RAS question
The Tamasha folk drama of Rajasthan is primarily associated with which city?
Correct answer: (A) Jaipur.
The Tamasha folk drama of Rajasthan is primarily associated with Jaipur.
Explanation
Tamasha is linked most directly with Jaipur as a musical folk drama involving music, acting and dance that developed in a specific form in Jaipur. Jaipur is its primary centre, and Gopiji Bhatta is credited with developing the form. Its performance idiom combines music, dance and dramatic presentation, with stories drawn from mythological and romantic themes. The Jaipur connection is reinforced by the Bhatt family tradition: 30 Stades places the form in the Jaipur court setting and notes that, until Gopiji Bhatt's time, Tamasha was confined to the Amer area of Jaipur before being taken to wider stages.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) Jodhpur is not the primary association here; Tamasha's specific development and family performance tradition are located in Jaipur, while the question's own note says Jodhpur has different folk traditions.
- (C) Bikaner is not supported here, as Tamasha is tied to Jaipur and Amer, and the question itself treats Bikaner as belonging to other folk traditions.
- (D) Udaipur is not the answer because the given material associates Udaipur with the Gavari tradition, whereas Tamasha is identified with Jaipur.
Concept
This tests Rajasthan folk theatre and its regional associations, a recurring RAS culture theme because exam questions often ask candidates to match art forms with their principal centres. Tamasha is a standard example where remembering the Jaipur link is the key discriminator.