Indian Art & Culture – Key Terms

Vocabulary flashcards summarising principal people, dances, festivals, temples, texts and symbols highlighted in the Indian Art & Culture MCQ notes.

Muhammad Iqbal

Urdu-Persian poet who composed the patriotic song “Sare Jahan Se Achha.”

“Sare Jahan Se Achha”

Famous Indian patriotic song written by Muhammad Iqbal.

Gopura

Tall ornamental gateway tower characteristic of South-Indian (Dravidian) temples; absent in North-Indian style.

Pradakshina

Circumambulatory path for devotees walking around the sanctum of a Hindu temple.

Garbha Griha

Innermost sanctum of a Hindu temple where the principal deity is housed.

Shikhara

Tapering superstructure (spire) that rises above the Garbha Griha in North-Indian temples.

Sattriya

Classical dance form of Assam with roots in Vaishnavite monasteries called ‘Satras.’

Kathak

North-Indian classical dance style known for fast footwork and spins; linked to storytelling bards called Kathakas.

Bharatanatyam

Classical dance of Tamil Nadu noted for fixed upper torso, bent legs, and expressive hand gestures (mudras).

Mohiniattam

Graceful classical dance of Kerala, traditionally performed by women; name means “dance of the enchantress.”

Kuchipudi

Lively classical dance-drama from the village of Kuchipudi in Andhra Pradesh.

Pallava Dynasty

South-Indian rulers (c. 3rd-9th CE) who patronised Ajanta-Ellora paintings and built rock-cut temples at Mahabalipuram & Kanchipuram.

Ajanta & Ellora Caves

Maharashtra cave complexes famed for Buddhist, Hindu & Jain murals flourished under Pallava patronage.

Nabakalebara Festival

Periodical renewal of wooden deities at Jagannath Temple, Puri, Odisha.

Sun Temple, Konark

13th-century Odisha temple nicknamed the “Black Pagoda” for its dark stone and navigational prominence.

Chhau

Martial folk dance (Jharkhand-Odisha-Bengal); not a folk dance of Uttar Pradesh.

Tansen

Legendary Hindustani vocalist of Emperor Akbar’s court in the 16th century.

Kala Ghoda Arts Festival

Annual multi-arts festival held in the Kala Ghoda district of Mumbai.

Ravidas

15th-century Bhakti poet-saint and cobbler by profession; revered for devotional hymns.

Sangeet Natak Akademi

India’s national academy for music, dance and drama, established 1953 to promote performing arts.

First Public Singing of National Anthem

“Jana Gana Mana” was first sung in 1911 at the Calcutta Session of the Indian National Congress.

Pungi (Dance)

Traditional folk dance associated with Himachal Pradesh.

“Satyameva Jayate”

Motto of India meaning “Truth Alone Triumphs,” sourced from the Mundaka Upanishad.

Mundaka Upanishad

Ancient Vedic text from which India’s motto “Satyameva Jayate” is taken.

Hanukkah

Jewish “Festival of Lights” commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem.

Guru Gopi Krishna

Renowned 20th-century maestro and innovator of the Kathak dance form.

Indian National Flag Ratio

Flag’s width-to-length proportion is 2 : 3 as specified in the Flag Code of India.

Adopted Portion of “Jana Gana Mana”

Only the first stanza of Rabindranath Tagore’s song constitutes India’s National Anthem.

Suchitra Sen

Iconic Bengali film actress nicknamed “Bengal’s Greta Garbo” for her reclusive aura.

Natya Shastra

Seminal treatise on Indian dramaturgy and dance attributed to sage Bharata Muni.

Bharata Muni

Ancient sage credited with authoring the Natya Shastra.

Dandia

Stick dance from Gujarat performed during Navratri festivities.

Garba

Circular, clapping folk dance of Gujarat, also central to Navratri celebrations.