Art & Culture question from UPSC CSE-Prelims, 2026
The Hallisalasya painting in the Bagh Caves represents:
Last updated Jun 5, 2026
Correct Answer:
Option A —
A joyous folk dance
The Scene:
The Bagh Caves, located in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh, date back to the 5th–6th century CE (contemporary to the Gupta era). The most famous surviving mural here is found in Cave 4 (known as the Rang Mahal or Palace of Colors). This magnificent painting depicts Hallisalasya, a vibrant group folk dance characterized by a circular formation.
The Details:
The composition shows a central troupe of female dancers moving rhythmically around a male musician who is playing a hand drum. The dancers are depicted with expressive, fluid bodily postures, intricate hairstyles, and traditional attire, beautifully capturing a celebratory, secular moment of ancient Indian life.
Why other options are incorrect:
(b) Buddha in a meditative pose: While the Bagh Caves are entirely Buddhist in their religious architecture and contain numerous monolithic statues and paintings of the Buddha and Bodhisattvas, the Hallisalasya mural is a secular, cultural scene painted alongside these spiritual depictions.
(c) The depiction of Shiva and Parvati on Kailasha & (d) Samudramanthan: These are major Hindu mythological themes. Because the Bagh Caves are purely a Buddhist rock-cut monastery complex, these Puranic theme designs are not featured in its murals.
Answer verified by Quintessence Classes faculty — Karan Nagar, Srinagar.
