Folk music of Rajasthan MCQ - Practice Questions with Answers

Bichchiyo, Lalar, Nokhila and Shikar are names associated with Rajasthan's folk-song tradition. The question is asking for the cultural category of these named forms, and they fit songs rather than staged dramatic forms. Folk dramas in Rajasthan would include performance traditions with acting and narrative presentation. Folk dances are identified through movement-based forms, while playing instruments are physical musical instruments such as drums or string instruments. These names are not instrument names; they are classified as folk songs.

Maand is a celebrated folk-classical singing style of Rajasthan, and Allah Jilai Bai is one of its best-known exponents. Gavari Bai and Banno Begam are also associated with Maand singing traditions. Gulabo is popularly known for Kalbelia dance and performance culture rather than as a master of Maand singing. Since the stem asks for the person who is not a master of Maand, Gulabo is the answer retained by the published key.

Khadtal is different because it is a percussion or idiophone instrument, played by striking wooden pieces together to keep rhythm. Mashak is a wind instrument, broadly comparable to a bagpipe form. Shehnai is also a wind instrument, sounded by blowing through a reed. Algoza is a pair of flutes and belongs to the wind-instrument group as well. Since Mashak, Shehnai and Algoza are all blown instruments, Khadtal stands apart by its method of sound production.

Allah Jilai Bai is remembered as a celebrated exponent of Mand singing, a refined folk-classical style associated with Rajasthan, especially Bikaner. Her fame rests on her voice and her rendering of Mand songs, not on dance. Kurja is a well-known folk song tradition, but it is not the reason for her main recognition. Playing an instrument also does not describe her public identity; she is known primarily as a singer. Therefore Mand singing best preserves the official and cultural association of her popularity.