Combined State/Upper Subordinate

Services Examination
Prelims & Mains

Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission, Prayagraj

Volume - 1

Uttar Pradesh GK & Current Affairs

 UP - PSC
Uttar Pradesh GK & Current Affairs
UP Art and Culture
Page
S.No. Chapter Name
No.
1. Cultural Heritage of Uttar Pradesh 1
 Cultural Heritage of UP
2. Arts of Uttar Pradesh 2
 Paintings
 Metal Ware
 Pottery
 Terracotta
3. Folk Dance and Music of Uttar Pradesh 10
 Folk dances
 Folk Music of Uttar Pradesh
4. Language and Literature of Uttar Pradesh 16
 Language of Uttar Pradesh
 Dialects Spoken in Uttar Pradesh
5. Crafts of Uttar Pradesh 18
 Carpet
 Embroidery Craft
 Hand Printing
 Inlay Work
 Pottery
 Stone Craft
 Terracotta Craft
 Wood Carving
 Glass Ware
6. Architecture and Sculptures of Uttar Pradesh 20
 Dhamekh Stupa of Sarnath
 Bhitargaon Temple Kanpur
 Dashavatara Temple, Deogarh
 Fatehpur Sikri architecture
 Agra Fort
 Taj mahal
 Allahabad Public Library
 All Saints Cathedral, Allahabad
 Kanpur Memorial Church
 Chaukhandi Stupa, Koshambi
 Parshvanath Digambar and Shwetambar Jain Temples, Varanasi
 Bharat Mata Temple, Varanasi
 Imambara, Lucknow
 Dewa Sharif Dargah, Lucknow
 Allahabad Fort
7 Fairs & Festivals of UP 26
 The Kumbh and the Ardh Kumbh
 Ramlila
 Ram Navmi Mela
 Shravan Jhula Mela
 Barsana Holi
 Kampil Fair, Kampil
 Taj Mahotsava
 Yoga Festival at Varanasi & Allahabad
 Ganga Festival, Varanasi
 Kailash Fair
 Bateshwar Fair
 Dewa Mela, Barabanki
 Rambarat
 Janamashtami
 Kartik Poornima
 Sardhana Christian Fair, Meerut
 Magh Fair
 Rath Fair
 Gau Charan Fair
 Bhai Dooj or Yam Dvitya Fair
 Nauchandi Fair
 Shakumbhari Fair
8 Major GI tagged items of UP 30
 Banarasi Brocades and Sarees
 Allahabad Surkha Guava
 Lucknow Chikankari
 Malihabadi Dusseheri
 Chunar Balua Patthar
 Bhadohi Carpets
 Kalanamak Rice
 Firozabad Glass
 Kannauj Perfume
 Kanpur Saddlery
 Varanasi Glass Beads
 Agra Durrie
 Farrukhabad Prints
 Khurja Pottery
 Varanasi Soft Stone Jali Work
 Lucknow Zardozi
 Moradabad Metal Craft
 Saharanpur Wood Craft
 Meerut Scissors
 Banaras Gulabi Meenakari Craft
 Mirzapur Handmade Durrie
 Nizamabad Black Pottery
 Varanasi Wooden Lacquerware & Toys
 Ghazipur Wall Hanging
 Benaras Metal Repouse Craft
 Gorakhpur Terracotta
 Ancient and Medieval history of UP
Page
S.No. Chapter Name
No.
1. Ancient History of Uttar Pradesh 38
 Prehistoric History of Uttar Pradesh
 Harappa Civilization
 Vedic age (C. 1500 – c. 500 BCE)
 Age of Mahajanapadas (6th century B.C.)
 Buddhism and Jainism
 Post-Vedic Period
 Post Gupta
2. Early Medieval Age 52
 Tripartite struggle for Kannauj
 Gurjar Prathihar
 Medieval History of Uttar Pradesh

Modern History
Page
S.No. Chapter Name
No.
1. British Conquest of Awadh 56
 Battle of Buxar
 Annexation of Awadh (1856)
2. Revolt of 1857 58
 Centres of 1857 Revolt in Uttar Pradesh
3. Peasant Movements in Uttar Pradesh 61
 Kisan Sabha movement
 Eka Movement
 Nai-Dhobi Bandh movement
 All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS)
4. Indian National Congress 64
 The Lucknow session, 1916
 Revolutionary movement in UP
5. Indian National Movement 67
 Non - cooperation Movement(NCM)
 Civil Disobedience movement
 Quit India Movement(QIM)
 Freedom Fighters from Uttar Pradesh
 Uttar Pradesh Geography
Page
S.No. Chapter Name
No.
1. Geographical Feature of Uttar Pradesh 74
 Location and Extent of Uttar Pradesh
 Geological Structure
 Physical Divisions of Uttar Pradesh
2. River and Drainage System of Uttar Pradesh 81
 River of Uttar Pradesh
 Rivers originating from Vindhya ranges or the plateau region
 Lakes of Uttar Pradesh
3. The Climate of Uttar Pradesh 89
 Classification of Climate
 Rainfall
4. Soil 91
 Classification of Soil
5. Mineral Resource of Uttar Pradesh 95
 Metallic Minerals
 Non-metallic Minerals
 Mining Policy of Uttar Pradesh, 2017
6. Hazard Profile of Uttar Pradesh 99
 Flood
 Drought
 Earthquakes
7 Natural Vegetation and Wildlife 104
 Vegetation and Flora
 India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021
8 Major Environmental Issues in Uttar Pradesh 111
 Air pollution
 Water pollution
 Soil pollution
 Noise pollution
9 Uttar Pradesh Census 2011 120
 Polity
Page
S.No. Chapter Name
No.
1. Administrative System of Uttar Pradesh 125
 Introduction
 Divisional Administration
 District administration
2. Panchayati Raj System Of UP 131
 Introduction
 Policy of Panchayati Raj Department
 Major schemes implemented by Panchayats
3. Education, Educational Infrastructure And Educational Policy Of Uttar Pradesh 134
 Introduction
 Educational Policy
4. Health, Health Infrastructure And Health Policy Of Uttar Pradesh 136
 Introduction
 Health Infrastructure
 Health Policy
5. Governors of UP 138
 List of Governors so far
 Key Facts about Governor
6. Chief Ministers of UP 140
 List of Chief Ministers (CM) of Uttar Pradesh
7. PMs from UP so far 143
 PMs from UP
8. Uttar Pradesh Population Policy 2021-2030 145
 Aims of the policy
 Provisions of UP Population Policy
 Economy
Page
S.No. Chapter Name
No.
1. Features of Economy of Uttar Pradesh 148
 UP at a glance
 Basics of UP Economy
 Developments post-economic reforms:-
 Challenges for UP Economy
 Intra-Regional Disparities, Inequality and Poverty in Uttar Pradesh
2. Main Features of budget of Uttar Pradesh 152
 Budget Highlights
 Policy Highlights
 UP’s Economy
 Budget Estimates for 2021-22
 Expenditure in 2021-22
 Receipts in 2021-22
 GST Compensation
 Deficits, Debts and FRBM Targets for 2021-22
 Comparison of states’ expenditure on key sectors
 Recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission for 2021-26
3. Infrastructure 160
 Transport
 Power generation
 Telecom penetration
 Urban infrastructure
 Social Infrastructure in UP
4. Industry in Uttar Pradesh 172
 Agro-based Industries in Uttar Pradesh
 Growth of industry
 List of Major Industrial Centers/Districts of Uttar Pradesh
 Minerals and Heavy Industries
 Major Industrial policies of UP
 List Of District Wise Products Under Uttar Pradesh Odop Scheme
 Tourism Industry in UP
5. Employment in UP 182
 State of unemployment in UP
 Educated Unemployment
 U.P. Skill Development Mission
6. Agriculture in Uttar Pradesh 186
 Agro Climate Regions of Uttar Pradesh
 Crop Production In Uttar Pradesh
 List of Important Horticultural Crops of Uttar Pradesh
 State Agriculture Policy 2013
 Source of Irrigation
 Ken Betwa River Link
 Livestock in Uttar Pradesh
 1 Cultural Heritage of Uttar
CHAPTER
Pradesh
Cultural Heritage of UP
● UP - one of the most ancient cradles of Indian culture.
● Antiquities found in Banda (Bundelkhand), Mirzapur and Meerut link its history to the early stone
age and Harappan era.
● Chalk drawings or dark red drawings by primitive men are extensively found in the Vindhya ranges
of Mirzapur districts.
● Utensils discovered in Atrangi-Khera, Kaushambi, Rajghat and Sonkh.
● Copper articles - Kanpur, Unnao, Mirzapur, Mathura.
● Population - Indo-Dravidian ethnic group.
○ Only a small population in the Himalayan region displays Asiatic origins.
● Hindus: 80 %, Muslims: > 15% and other religious communities include Sikhs, Christians, Jain and
Buddhists.
● Traditional handicrafts - textiles, metalware, woodwork, ceramics, stonework, dolls, leather
products, ivory articles, Paper-Mache articles made of horns, bone, cane and bamboo, perfume and
musical instruments.
● Cottage crafts - Varanasi, Azamgarh, Maunath Bhanjan, Ghazipur, Meerut, Moradabad and Agra.
● Carpets - Bhadohi and Mirzapur.
● Silks and brocades - Varanasi
● Ornamental brassware - Moradabad
● Chikan (a type of embroidery) work - Lucknow
● Ebony work - Nagina
● Glassware - Firozabad
● Carved woodwork - Saharanpur.
● Traditional pottery centres - Khurja, Chunar, Lucknow, Rampur, Bulandshahr, Aligarh and Azamgarh.
● Exquisite brass utility articles - Moradabad.
● Minakari on silver, gold and diamond-cut silver ornaments - Varanasi and Lucknow.

1
 2 Arts of Uttar Pradesh
CHAPTER

Paintings
● Can be traced back to prehistoric times.
○ Eg. The cave paintings of Sonbhadra and Chitrakoot depict scenes of hunting, war, festivals,
dances, romantic life and animals.
● The culture of painting in UP developed the most during the Mughal period aka “The golden period
of painting”.
● Attained its peak during the reign of Jahangir.
● Art of painting reached the epitome of perfection in the area of Bundelkhand when the king of
Orchha reconstructed the temple of Keshav Dev in Mathura.
○ The paintings of Mathura, Gokul, Vrindavan and Govardhan depict scenes from the life of Lord
Krishna.
● Other major schools- Garhwal school which was patronized by the king.
Rock Paintings
● Painted rock shelters - Chandauli, Sonbhadra, Mirzapur, Allahabad, Chitrakoot and Banda in
northern Vindhyas and around Fatehpur Sikri and Agra in the Aravalli ranges.

Major Rock Paintings

Rock Paintings About

Mirzapur and ● Vindhya and the Kaimur ranges - 250 rock art sites.
Sonbhadra ● Range from the mesolithic to the chalcolithic ages.
● Major sites - Panchmukhi Rock Shelters (8 km from Robertsganj),
Kauwa Khoh Rock Shelters (near Churk), Lakhania Rock Shelters (22 km
from Robertsganj) and Lakhma caves (near Baghma).

Kauva Khoh ● Biggest rock shelter site in UP

● Houses the largest repertoire of Rock paintings

Wyndham Falls ● Found near the source of the Wyndham waterfall.

Likhaniya Dari ● Located along the course of a drainage line of a mountain-fed stream
known locally as the Garai river.

2
 ● One painted panel is estimated to be painted continuously from
Prehistory to the Historic period and contains upwards of fifty painted
icons.

Chuna Dari Cave ● A very large and deep cave that bears many more paintings than
Likhaniya Dari.
● Occur along the Garai river
● Full of painted icons and thematic panels mostly in red geru and
occasionally in black.
● Except for the paintings which occur on the ceiling of the cave and
have therefore survived defacement, most of the red paintings peep
from below several layers of copious modern-day graffiti which has
nearly obliterated the art
● Also development of a calcareous deposit on rocks which sometimes
obliterates paintings which are older.

Morhana Pahar ● Occur on top of a rocky plateau on a tableland.

● The rock art imagery is far too large, indeed over hundreds of
depictions spread over some sixteen shelters.

Other Destinations ● Cave shelters of Lakhania, Panchmukhi, lakhma

Metal Ware
● Largest Brass and copper-making region in India.
○ Copper utensils - Etawah, Varanasi, and Sitapur.
○ Ritual articles - copper-like Tamra Patra, panch Patras, sinhasans, and the kanchanthals (plates
for offering flowers and sweets).
● Varanasi - icon-casting.
● Moradabad - Metal handicrafts.
○ Engraving - embellishing metal ware - Moradabad.

Pottery
● Khurja is also well known for its cheap ceramic pottery.
○ Done with relief work and the colours used are not loud or dark.
○ Orange, light red and brown against the plain, white background.
○ Floral designs in sky blue are a visual delight.
○ Famous for its pitcher-shaped vessel.
● Chunar - potters glaze the wares with a brown slip that is interlarded with myriad other hues.
● Meerut and Hapur - excellent water containers.
○ Adorned with striking designs and floral patterns.
○ Weirdly shaped spouts.

3
● Chinhat - glazed pottery.
○ Blue and brown colours - used by the artisans.
○ White or cream surfaces.
○ Generally, adhere to the geometric designs.
● Nizamabad - black pottery.
○ Articles are fired in an enclosed kiln with rice husks.
○ Smoke generated imparts the black colour.
○ Designs etched on the dry surface filled with silver paint made from zinc and mercury.
○ Glossy look - vessels coated with lacquer when they are still hot.

Terracotta
● Among the clay products of Uttar Pradesh, the wares of the potters of Gorakhpur are well known.
○ Animal figures like horses and elephants with hand-appliquéd ornamentation.
○ Figures of goddesses convened into lamps, mother and child motifs, and other ritual objects are
all crafted here by hand.
● Potters in Uttar Pradesh make both utilitarian as well as decorative ware from clay.
○ The throwing is done by only men as women getting involved in this stage is considered
inauspicious whereas women carry out the remaining stages of this craft.
○ Hindu potters- Prajapati
○ Muslim potters - Kasgars.
■ Hindus do not use the ware twice, the decorative element is done away with while the
opposite happens in the pottery produced by the Kasgars where the finishing and
ornamentation are specifically taken care of.
Jewellery
● Lucknow is well known for its jewellery and enamelling work.
● Exquisite silverware with patterns of hunting scenes, snakes and roses are very popular.
● The Bidri and Zarbuland silver work of Lucknow find expressions on excellent pieces of huqqa farshi,
jewel boxes, trays, bowls, cufflinks, cigarette holders etc.
● Renowned ivory and bone carving with motifs of flowers, leaves, creepers, trees, birds and animals
are widely produced in Lucknow.
● The master craftsmen create intricate terms like knives, lampshades, shirtpins and small toys.
Perfume
● “Attars” or perfumes are also produced in Lucknow since the 19th century.
● The Lucknow perfumes experimented with and succeeded in making attar with delicate and lasting
fragrances that are made from various aromatic herbs, species, sandal oil, musk, essence of flowers
and leaves.
● The famous Lucknow fragrances are khus, keora, chameli, zafron and agar.
Tourism
● National and international tourists - > 71 million domestic tourists (in 2003) and almost 25% of the
all-India foreign tourists.
● Circuits listed by department of tourism, Government of UP, 2011:

4
Circuit Districts and Regions covered

Agra Braj Circuit Agra, Mathura, Vrindavan, Fatehpur Sikri, Soor Sarovar, Chambal

Buddhist Circuit Kapilavastu, Sarnath, Varanasi, Sravasti, Sankisa, Kaushambi,

Kushinagar, Lumbini, Bodh Gaya.

Bundelkhand Circuit Jhansi, Mahoba, Kakramath, Kalinjar, Deogarh, Samthar, Datia,

Khajuraho, Chanderi, Baruasagar, Orchha.

Awadh-Ayodhya Circuit Lucknow, Kukrail, Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary, Ayodhya, Naimisharnya,

Devasharif, Bithoor.

Varanasi and Vindhyachal Varanasi, Vindhyachal, Pamnagar, Chunar, Allahabad, Kaimoor Wild
Circuit Life Sanctuary, Chandra Prabha Wild Life Sanctuary

Mahabharata Circuit Hastinapur, Baghpat, Bijnor

Ram Van-Gaman Yatra Ayodhya, Bharatkund, Belha Devi-Pratapgarh, Shrangverpur,

Circuit Allahabad, Chitrakoot

Circuit related to 1st War of Jhansi, Meerut, Lucknow, Raibareilly, Unnao, Kanpur, Bithoor, Sitapur,
Independence,1857 Badaun, Bareilly, Hathras, Shahjahanpur, Mainpuri, Firozabad,
Gorakhpur, Devaria, Azamgarh, Balia, Varanasi, Allahabad

Jain Circuit Shravasti, Kaushambi, Allahabad, Ayodhya, Faizabad, Ronahi, Kampil,

Hastinapur, Sauripur, Agra, Banaras, Kushinagar.

Sikh Circuit Gurudwara Pakki Sangat (Allahabad) -Gurudwara Ahrora, Gurudwara

Chota and Gurudwara Bhuili (Mirzapur) - Gurudwara Nichibagh,
Gurudwara Gurubagh (Varanasi) - Guru Teg Bahadur Ji ki Tapsthali,
Chachakpur, Gurudwara Paasmandal (Jaunpur) - Gurudwara
Brahmkund (Ayodhya) -Gurudwara Ahyiyaganj (Lucknow) - Gurudwara
Singh Sabha (Mathura) -Gurudwara Hathighat, Gurudwara Guru ka
Taal (Agra).

Sufi Circuit Fatehpur Sikri, Pampur, Badaun, Bareilly, Lucknow, Kakori, Dewasharif
(Barabanki), Bahraich, Kichocha Sharif, Kade Shah - Kada (Kaushambi),
Allahabad, Kantit Sharif (Mirzapur).

Christian Circuit Merut-Sardhana, Agra, Kanpur, Lucknow, Allahabad, Varanasi,

Gorakhpur.

Handicraft Circuit Lucknow, Agra, Aligarh, Firozabad, Rampur, Kanpur, Kannauj,

Vrindavan, Muradabad, Khurja, Varanasi, Bhadohi, Mirzapur, Chunar,
Jaunpur, Gorakhpur.

5
● Agra - 3 world heritage sites, Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and the nearby Fatehpur Sikri.
○ Taj Mahal
■ A mausoleum built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of its beloved wife Mumtaz
Mahal.
■ aka “the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the
world’s heritage.”
○ Agra fort
■ 2.5 km northwest of Taj Mahal.
■ Described as a walled palatial city.
○ Fathepur Sikri
■ World famous 16th-century capital city near Agra,
■ By the Mughal emperor Akbar.
● Varanasi - one of the oldest cities in the world.
○ Famous for its Ghats (bathing steps along the river), full of pilgrims year-round who come to
bathe in the sacred Ganga river.
● Mathura- colourful celebration of the holi festivals.
● Prayagraj- Magh Mela festival - held on the banks of the Ganga.
○ Organised on a larger scale every 12th year
○ aka Kumbh Mela, where over 10 million Hindu pilgrims congregate-proclaimed as one of the
largest gatherings of human beings in the world.
● Ghazipur - Ganga Ghat, Tomb of British potentate Lord Cornwallis, maintained by archaeological
survey of India.
● Lucknow - Bara Imambara and Chhota Imambara.
○ Damaged complex of the Oudh-British resident’s quarters, which are being restored.
● Bareilly / “Nath Nagari” - “The Jhumka City” and “Bamboo City”.
○ 5 nath temple in Bareilly
○ A mediator city between Lucknow and NCR Delhi.

Tribes of Uttar Pradesh

Tribes About

Agariya ● Area- Mirzapur

● Language- Hindi, Agariya language and Chhatisgarhi

Aheria ● aka Aheri, Aheriya, Ahiria, Baheliya, Bahelia, Herbi, Beta, Heri, Hersi, karwal,
Hesi, Karbal, Thori, Naik or Turi etc
● Speak mainly Hindi as they are believers of Hindu religion.

Baiga ● Practices ‘shifting cultivation’ / Dahiya cultivation in the forest.

6
 ● Tattooing is an integral part of their lifestyle.
● Lead a semi-nomadic life.

Beldar ● Area - Lakhipur, Barabanki, Gonda, Khari, Gorakhpur, Ginda, Sitapur, Faizabad
etc.
● An occupational caste and their traditional occupation is that of the navvies.

Bhoksa/ Buksa ● Speak Buksa language which can be compared to Rana Tharu.
people ● Worship the tribal deity of Shakumbari Devi.
● Involved in cultivating land and many works as mountain guides
● Have some distinct settlements and they do not share the same with any caste
of tribal grouping.

Bind Tribe ● Belong to the Other Backward Caste.

● Originated from the Vindhya Hills located in the central part of India.
● Main occupation - making the reed mats
● Languages - Awadhi and Bhojpuri
● Practice Hinduism and follow its customs.

Chero ● Southeastern Uttar Pradesh - Kol and Bhar, Muzaffarpur to Allahabad

● Mainly involved in agriculture and animal husbandry.
● Also, collect the Mahua flower that is available locally to be sold in the markets.
● Not endogamous.

Ghasiya or ● A Hindu caste.

Ghasia ● Have the status of the scheduled caste and are found in Uttar Pradesh.
● Area - Sonbhadra and Mirzapur
● Follow clan exogamy strictly.
● Language - Hindi in Bundelkhandi dialect.

Kanjar ● aka Marwari Kumar, Banchra and Nath.

● Main occupation - hunting.
● Follow Hinduism and Sikhism and all of them worship the community deity,
Mana.

Kewat ● Boatmen of North India traditionally.

● Controlled by the Charghat Panchayat which covers the region of the Awadh.
● Allahabad region is covered by the Baraghat panchayat.

Khairaha ● Hindu caste that has the status of the scheduled caste.
● Districts - Allahabad and Mirzapur

7
 ● Communicate in Hindi language.
● Practice agriculture, fishing and animal husbandry.

Kharot ● An endogamous sub group which has got the title of the Scheduled Caste.
● Mainly found in the eastern parts of Uttar Pradesh.
● Most of them are agricultural laborers who do not have their own land.

Kol ● Allahabad, Varanasi, Banda and Mirzapur districts

● Largest tribe in Uttar Pradesh.
● Followers of Hinduism and speak in Baghelkhandi dialect.
● Do not have any land and depend upon the forest for the income.

Korwa ● Economically and socially poor community.

● Isolated tribes and most of them are hunter gatherers.
● Practice settled agriculture and are a part of the Hindu community.
● Communicate in their mother tongue Korwa which is also known as Singli and
Ernga alternatively.

Kotwar ● They were village watchmen and said to have acquired their name on that
account.
● Now a part of the Hindu caste and are found in Mirzapur and Sonbhadra
districts.
● Inhibit the forested and undulating terrains and have the status of the Scheduled
Caste.
● Medium and small sized farmers who practice agriculture in the present times.

Panika/ Panka ● Was involved in fan manufacturing and hence the origin of their name.
● Found in the areas of Mirzapur and Sonbhadra.

Parahiya ● Followers of Hinduism

● Practice slash and burn agriculture technique.
● Speak a Hindi dialect.

Patari ● In Sonbhadra
● Originally the Gond tribal who advised the Gond Kings and also specialized in the
rituals.
● Communicate in Hindi.
● Practice agriculture and are sharecroppers and also animal husbandry.

Patharkat/ ● Literal meaning - stone cutter

Sangtarash ● Located majorly in Lucknow, Raebareli, Sitapur, Hardoi and Unnao.

8
 ● Communicate in Ghiarai amongst themselves and speak in Hindi with the
outsiders

Sahariya ● Scheduled Caste found in the Bundelkhand region.

● aka Banrawat, Rawat, Soarain and Banrakha.
● Traditional occupation - collecting honey, woodcutting, mining, making baskets,
breaking stones etc.

Tharu ● Belongs to the Terai lowlands, amid the Shivaliks or lower Himalayas.
● Most of them are forest dwellers and some practiced agriculture.
● Worship Lord Shiva as Mahadev, and call their supreme being “Narayan”.

Mahigeer ● In Nazibabad region of district Bijnor

● Also at Sahanpur, Jalalabad, Manera, Mandwar and Dharanagar.

9
 3 Folk Dance and Music of
CHAPTER
Uttar Pradesh
Folk dances
Charkula Dance
● Origin in the Braj region of the state - connected to the myths surrounding the life and times of
Krishna.
● Performed by women who carry lamps on their heads.
○ Pyramidally arranged on structures specifically made for the purpose.
○ Multiple lamps from 51 to 108 - Charkula.
● Performed by women wearing colourful skirts which reach down to their ankles and equally ornate
blouses, carrying lamps on their heads and indulging in short charming movements.
● Performed to the tune of the 'rasiya' a folk song celebrating love.
● Performance ends in a musical crescendo where the singers and musicians join in.
Swang
● Incorporates suitable theatrics and mimicry accompanied by song and dialogue.
● A dialogue-oriented rather than movement-oriented.
● Religious stories and folk tales are enacted by a group of ten or twelve persons in an open area or
an open-air theatre surrounded by the audience.
● Themes - morality, folk tales, lives of inspiring personalities, stories from Indian mythology and in
recent times, more current themes like health and hygiene, literacy, etc.
● 2 important styles of Swang are from Rohtak and Haathras.
○ In the style belonging to Rohtak, the language used is Haryanvi (Bangru) and in Haathras, it is
Brajbhasha.
● Swang of Puran Nath Jagi, Gopi Nath and Veer Hakikat Rai are very popular in UP.
○ In the swangs of Puran Nath Jogi & Gopi Nath the life of detachment incident and in Hakikat Rai’s
swang, the love of religion is presented at its artistic skills.
Nautanki
● A form of street play or skit popular in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
● Consists of folklore and mythological dramas blended with folk songs and dances.
● 2 major centres - Hathras and Kanpur.
● Performance begins around midnight and carries on till daybreak of the next day.
Naqaal
● A mockery targeted at a leader - Khalifa.
● The joker selects the action as well as the pace through his tricks and jokes.

10
● During the play, the joker ridicules the audience too.
● Brings the sordid side of life into the limelight.
● Presented by Naqaals, Mirasis and Bhands.
● Rests heavily on crispy conservations.
● UP Naqal group consists of singers, dancers, musicians and clowns.
○ Leader - Ustad.
● Bhands play the comic character - skilled in composing and performing jokes that relate to a
particular occasion.
● Semi-historical tales - Dulla Bhatti, Kima Malki, Hodi, Koklan and Sohni Mahiwal performed.
Raslila
● aka Braj Raslila.
● Originated from Braj area in Agra region of Uttar Pradesh.
● A theatrical form performed in many states of India.
● Generally performed on Rasia - a form of song wholly based on the subject of Krishna-Radha love.
● Emphasis on "darshan" i.e. seeing through sound.
○ Visual sense only for enhancement.
● Ultimate component - 'bhava' - a specific mood or sentiment conveyed by means of the music and
songs.
● Shows diverse dramatic flavours like friendship, parental love, amazement, humour, conjugal love,
dread, chivalry, compassion and fury.
Ramlila
● A traditional art from reputed folk culture of Uttar Pradesh.
● It primarily deals with the life of Lord Rama in Ramayana.
● 4 different schools of Ramlila in Uttar Pradesh.
○ First - pantomimic style with a predominance of jhankis - tableaux pageants.
○ Second - dialogue-based style with multi-local staging.
○ Third and the fourth - operatic style - draw their musical elements from the folk operas of the
region and the stage.
● Ramlila of the professional troupes called "mandalis".
● Famous Ramlilas- Varanasi, Ram Nagar and Chitrakoot.
Kathak
● One of the six major classical dance forms of India and a prominent part of Uttar Pradesh music and
dance traditions.
● One of the most enchanting theatrical forms in the world.
● Derives its tradition and name from the storyteller of ‘Kathaks’ of the older days.
● Rise of the Bhakti cult and the influence of the Persian artists in the courts of the Mughal kings gave
the art form its present distinctive form.
● Major Kathak Gharanas of UP:

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 ○ Lucknow Gharana
■ Most popular Gharana.
■ Dancers use graceful wrist and hand movements to depict the story.
■ Founder - Pandit Ishwari Prasad is the founder of the Lucknow Gharana.
■ Most notable and famous dancer - Pandit Birju Maharaj.
○ Banaras Gharana
■ Developed on the banks of the holy river Ganga.
■ Renowned dancer Jankiprasad.
■ Focuses on stage setting and freely utilizes a more liberal form of Chakkars.
Diwari pai danda
● A folk dance form from the Bundelkhand region.
● Themed around the childhood pranks and frolics of Lord Krishna.
● Depicts the mock fights that the Lord had with the cowherd boys with whom he spent his early years.
● Performed exclusively by the ahir (milkmen) community during Diwali.
● Popular in hamirpur, mahoba and banda.
● aka Diwali nritya or stick dance.
● Performed by males who move in circles holding long sticks in their hands and tying ghoongrus on
their feet and waist to provide rhythm and fast movements to the dance.
Natwari
● aka Dance of Krishna.
● Associated with Kathak.
● Famous in the eastern end of Uttar Pradesh.
● Revived in the 1960s by the Kathak dancer, Uma Sharma.
Chhapeli
● Performed by a male and female accompanied by dance and song.
● Portrays the tradition and customs of the people of the region.
● Not mandatory that the couples who participate in the dance forms are actually lovers, though the
concept of the couple taking the dance floor was started to enhance the bonding between two
people.

Other folk dances

Diwali Dance ● Performed by Bundelkhandi Ahirs on the occasion of Diwali with lit
lamps on their heads.

Kartik Geet Dance ● Prevalent in Bundelkhand region of the state.

Khayal ● Another folk dance of Uttar Pradesh simultaneously popular in several

other Indian states.
● Began as a major folk dance in Uttar Pradesh.

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 ● Different styles of khyal, each known by the name of a city, acting style,
community or author.

Jogini ● Performed collectively on the occasion of Ram Navami by male dancers

in the Awadh region.

Rai dance ● This dance is performed by the women of Bundelkhand on the occasion
of Shri Krishna Janmashtami.
● It is performed like a peacock.
● That's why it is also called Peacock Dance.

Dadra ● Revolves around occult and sexual pleasure.

● Singers give playback to the performers who are performing on stage
● Lip-sync with the singers.

Dhobia Raag ● Dance performed by Dhobi caste.

Shayra ● A dance performed by the farmers of Bundelkhand at the time of

harvesting.

Karma dance ● It is a dance performed jointly by men and women of Kol tribes in
Mirzapur and Sonbhadra districts.

Folk Music of Uttar Pradesh

Kajari
● A genre of semi-classical singing.
● A season based music.
● Sung often by classical and semi-classical musicians.
● Mirzapur is considered the real home of the Kajari.
● As the legend goes in Mirzapur, there was woman named 'Kajali' whose husband was in a distant
land.
○ Monsoon arrived and the separation became unbearable, she started crying at the feet of the
Goddess and these cries subsequently took the form of Kajari.
● Possibly a derivative of Kajal which means Kohl or Black in Hindi.
● 2 forms of Kajari singing:
○ First - sung on a performance platform whereas women sing the other one on monsoon evenings
while dancing in a semi-circle.
○ Second - 'Dhunmuniya Kajri'
● Major exponents - Pandit Chhanulal Misra, Shobha Gurtu, Girja Devi, Rajan and Sajan Mishra among
others.

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Birha
● Genre - mood-based.
● Basic theme - separation of lover and his beloved. Actually 'Birha' in Hindi means separation.
● Origin - incidents where mostly men from small villages used to migrate to cities in search of
livelihood.
○ Often they had to leave their newly-weds behind in the village only.
○ The lament of separation and carnal desire among the womenfolk of the village led to the birth
of Birha.
● Extremely popular among the farmers and labourers in eastern UP.
Rasiya
● Rasiya is a style of folk song of North India’s braja region.
● Rasiya songs are sung in the regional Hindi dialect variety of styles, ranging from unpretentious
women’s songs to group performances by semi-professional akharas (clubs) of men.
● Slowly gained popularity all over the world due to organizations like ISKCON.
● Origin confined to the Braj region.
● Comprises towns like Mathura, Nandgaon, Barsane, Vrindavan and Govardhan.
● Mostly sung on Holi.
● Themes - conjugal love of Krishna with his consort Radha and other milkmaids of his village.
Chaiti
● Sung in the month of Chait (March/April).
● Season specific song.
● Famous in Eastern UP and Bihar for this is the season of harvest.
● Many of the Chaiti songs have references to Holi.
● A musical form derived from folk songs & themes mostly revolves around Holi and Ramnavmi.
● Evokes the aura of romanticism and the mood of love.
● Most common theme - Holi and depiction of scene where a girl asks her husband for a new bridal
dress.
● Famous patrons - Girija Devi, Shobha Gutru and Pundit Chhanulal Misra.
● Falls under light classical form of Hindustani classical music.
Aalha
● Famous in Bundelkhand region.
● A heroic storytelling rhythmic style.
● Heroic story of two brothers, Aalha and Udal is performed.
Thumri
● Originated from Hindi word 'Thumakna'.
● Themes - romantic and devotional - revolve around a girl's love for Lord Krishna.
● Content of sensuousness is the main emotive basis.
● Has its own idiom, scholastic tradition, aesthetics and mannerisms.

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● Marked by a greater flexibility with the Ragas in comparison with its other cousins such as Tappa
and Khayal.
● Ragas predominantly used - Pilu, Kafi, Khamaj, Tilak Kamod and Bhairavi.
● Most compositions based on 'Kaherava' of 8 beats, Ardh-taal of 16 beats, 'Dipchandi' of 14 beats or
'Jaat' of 16 beats.
● Greatest patron - Nawab of Awadh, Nawab Wajid Ali Shah.
● Famous exponents - Rasoolan Bai, Siddheshwari Devi, Girija Devi, Gauhar Jan, Begum Akhtar, Shobha
Gurtu and Noor Jehan.

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