Mandana' word is connected with state:

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 2:

Mandana is a highly significant and ancient folk art form of wall and floor painting that is fundamentally associated with the state of Rajasthan, with some practice extending into Madhya Pradesh. The word 'Mandana' itself is derived from the term *mandan*, meaning 'to decorate' or 'adornment'. This art is traditionally practiced by women, especially those from the Meena community, on auspicious occasions like festivals (such as Diwali and Makar Sankranti), marriages, and ceremonies, with the primary purpose of welcoming deities, bringing prosperity, and warding off evil. The paintings are characteristically created using white chalk or lime (khariya) on a base prepared with cow-dung or red clay (geru), and are known for their intricate geometric and symbolic designs. The cultural centrality of this art form to the domestic and spiritual life of the region solidifies Rajasthan as its main center.

The incorrect option is 1:
Maharashtra is famously known for a different and distinct tribal art tradition called *Warli* painting. Warli art, practiced predominantly by the Warli tribe in the Thane and Palghar districts, is characterized by its simplistic, stick-figure human forms and a limited vocabulary of basic geometric shapes (circle, triangle, square), which are typically painted in white rice paste on an earthen background. This contrasts sharply with the ornate, predominantly symbolic and geometric floor/wall designs that define the Mandana tradition, making Maharashtra an incorrect answer.

The incorrect option is 3:
While Gujarat is geographically adjacent to Rajasthan, it is not the state primarily connected with the Mandana art form. Gujarat has its own rich, regional art traditions. In the context of floor art, the general term *Rangoli* is commonly used in Gujarat, which, though similar in function (auspicious decoration), uses powdered colours and is an entirely different practice from the specific mud and chalk-based wall and floor *Mandana* tradition of Rajasthan.

The incorrect option is 4:
Uttar Pradesh is known for its own regional floor and wall art tradition, often referred to as *Chowk Purana*. Like Mandana, *Chowk Purana* is drawn on the floor during festivals and ceremonies to signify auspiciousness, but it is terminologically and stylistically separate from Mandana. Although folk art traditions can overlap, the core cultural, community-specific (Meena), and geographical origin of the art form specifically named 'Mandana' is located further west, in Rajasthan.