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UPSC CSE 2026 · PYQ · Art and Culture / Cave Paintings · hard

The Hallisalasya painting in the Bagh Caves represents:

  1. A.A joyous folk dance✓ Correct
  2. B.Buddha in a meditative pose
  3. C.The depiction of Shiva and Parvati on Kailasha
  4. D.Samudramanthan (Churning of the Ocean)

Explanation

The Bagh Caves in Madhya Pradesh contain Buddhist paintings dating to the 5th-7th centuries CE, executed on the walls of cave viharas. Among the most celebrated murals is the Hallisalasya (or Hallisaka) painting, which depicts a circular folk dance performed by a group of women, often associated with Krishna's Rasa Lila tradition or a joyous communal/folk dance. It is one of the earliest surviving depictions of a group dance in Indian mural art and is famous for its lively rhythm and graceful figures.
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