SSC Stenographer 2026 PYQ — Question 26

Solution: The correct answer is Rouf – Rabab and Tumbaknari.
Explanation:
☛ Rouf is a well-known traditional folk dance originating from the Kashmir Valley in Jammu and Kashmir.
☛ It is predominantly performed by Kashmiri women during festive occasions like Eid, Ramzan, and to celebrate the arrival of the spring season.
☛ Dancers form two facing rows, interlock their arms around each other's waists, and perform graceful, rhythmic forward and backward footwork.
☛ This performance is traditionally accompanied by musical instruments such as the Rabab (a plucked lute) and the Tumbaknari (a traditional Kashmiri goblet drum).
Extra Exam-Relevant Facts:
☛ Thiruvathira Kali: A traditional group dance performed exclusively by women in Kerala during the Onam and Thiruvathira festivals; it is characterized by clapping hands and singing traditional hymns around a sacred brass lamp (Nilavilakku).
☛ Saila Dance: A popular stick dance performed post-harvest by tribal communities (such as the Baiga and Gond) in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, accompanied by instruments like Mandar and Timki.
☛ Sattriya: A classical dance tradition originating from the Sattras (monasteries) of Assam, primarily accompanied by musical instruments like Khol (drum), Tala (cymbals), and Flute.
☛ Pheran: A traditional Kashmiri long woollen robe/tunic worn in winter, rather than a musical accompaniment.
Important One-Liners for Upcoming Exams:
☛ Which stringed instrument is widely used in Kashmiri traditional music alongside Rouf? → Rabab
☛ Which 15th-century Vaishnavite saint-reformer introduced the Sattriya dance? → Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev
☛ In which Indian state is the Thiruvathira Kali dance primarily performed? → Kerala
☛ Tumbaknari, a traditional goblet-shaped earthenware percussion instrument, belongs to which region? → Jammu and Kashmir
☛ Saila dance, a famous post-harvest stick dance, belongs predominantly to which state? → Chhattisgarh