0.3242
7667766266
x

Dancing Girl of Mohenjo-daro

iasparliament Logo
June 18, 2026

Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Art & Culture

Why in News?

Recently, NCERT restored the original image of the Dancing Girl in the Class 9 Arts Education textbook, after controversy over a retouched version.

  • The Dancing Girl figurine has long been a defining symbol of the Indus Valley Civilisation (Harappan Civilisation and is displayed in the National Museum, New Delhi.

Indus Valley Civilisation – 3300 BCE to 1300 BCE.

  • Discovered in – 1926, by archaeologist Ernest McKay at Mohenjo‑daro (Sindh, Pakistan).
  • Age – Over 4,500 years old, belonging to the Harappan period.
  • Material – Bronze.
  • Technique – Made using Lost‑wax casting technique, proving that ancient Harappans possessed intricate metal-blending and casting capabilities.
  • Dimensions – Height 10.5 cm.
  • Appearance – Nude female figure with hair tied in a bun, adorned with bangles, bracelet, and necklace.

                                      Dancing Girl

  • Symbolic Value – Considered evidence of high art in Harappan society.
  • Interpretations – Some historians view her as a dancer; others suggest she may represent a woman with an offering.

Mohenjo‑daro

  • Timeline – 1st major Indus Valley urban centre, Built around 2500 BCE,

Mohenjo‑daro means Mound of the Dead.

  • Discovery – Excavated in 1922, showing advanced civic and cultural life.
  • River - Mohenjo-daro was built on the fertile right bank of the Indus River.
  • City Features – Baked brick houses, public baths, granary, wells, soak pits, drainage system.
  • Organization – Evidence of strong civic, economic, social, and cultural systems.
  • Structure –
    • Citadel (West) – Buddhist stupa built in 2nd century AD.
    • Lower City (East) – Grid‑pattern streets with sanitation and drainage.
  • UNESCO Status – World Heritage Site in Sindh, Pakistan.
  • Significant Indus Valley artefacts Pashupati seal, bearded priest, terracotta figurines.

References

  1. Indian Express | Dancing Girl
  2. UNESCO | Mohenjo-daro
Login or Register to Post Comments
There are no reviews yet. Be the first one to review.

ARCHIVES

MONTH/YEARWISE ARCHIVES

sidetext
Free UPSC Interview Guidance Programme
sidetext