Which of the following statements correctly describes a unique feature of the Dumhal dance of Kashmir?

Correct — C. Dumhal is a dance of Kashmir that only the men of the Wattal community perform, on set occasions and at set places.

The performers move in a ritual manner, dig a banner into the ground, and the dance usually begins with the men dancing around it.

Wattal men around a planted banner → option (c).

Why the others are wrong

• (a)
  It is performed by women during harvest festivals. — Dumhal is danced by men, not women. Rouf is a Kashmiri dance performed by women in groups, on festive occasions such as Eid.
• (b)
  It is accompanied solely by string instruments and solo singing. — The dancers sing in chorus, and drums carry the music. That rules out solo singing with string instruments alone.
• (d)
  It allows spontaneous performance by any community on any occasion. — Dumhal is restricted to the Wattal community and to specific occasions, the reverse of open, spontaneous performance.

Dumhal's markers are fixed: Wattal men, long colourful robes, tall conical caps studded with beads and shells, a banner dug into the ground, chorus singing and drums.

Rouf, another Kashmiri folk dance, is performed by women in groups facing each other.

Key facts

• Dumhal is performed only by men of the Wattal community of Kashmir.
• Dancers wear long colourful robes and tall conical caps studded with beads and shells.
• They dig a banner into the ground and dance around it, singing in chorus to drums.
• Rouf is a Kashmiri folk dance performed by women in groups facing each other.

Common traps

• Swapping Dumhal and Rouf: Dumhal is Wattal men with a banner, Rouf is women in facing rows.
• Picking the vaguest option: 'any community on any occasion' is the opposite of a unique feature.

No directly related past PYQ was found.