Manipuri dance is one of the six classical dance styles of India, the others being Bharata-natyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, and Orissi. It is indigenous to Manipur, the north-eastern state of India and the indigenous people of this valley were said to be the dance-expert Gandharva's, mentioned in the epic Ramayana, Mahabharata and other religious scriptures.
Manipuri dance is purely religious and its aim is a spiritual experience. Development of music and dance has through religious festivals and daily activities of the Manipuri people. Not only is dance a medium of worship and enjoyment, a door to the divine, but indispensable for all socio-cultural ceremonies. From the religious point of view and from the artistic angle of vision, Manipuri Classical Form of dance is claimed to be one on the most chestiest, modest, softest and mildest but the most meaningful dances of the world.
The most obliging aspect of Manipuri culture is that, it has retained the ancient ritual based dances and folk dances along with the later developed classical Manipuri dance style. Among the classical categories, 'Ras Leela' - a highly evolved dance drama, choreographed on 'Vaishnavite Padavalis' composed by mainly eminent Bengali poets and some Manipuri Gurus, is the highest expression of artistic genius, devotion and excellence of the Manipuris.
Manipuri Style of Dance:
For the Manipuris, dancing for the sake of dancing and contract system was almost unknown. Dance performances were done before the deities of the people with great huility and submission for the pleasure of the deities.From the sacred texts, we can point here some characteristic features of Manipuri dancing which are as under -
1) The place where dance are held are sacred. It is considered to be a crime or sin to violate the rules. Anytime, anyplace is not good enough.
2) Dances are devotional or ritualistic rather than entertainment of the eyes. It is a Sadhan-Bhakti -kind of devotion to God for both the dancers and onlookers.
3) The dressing is so designed as to free them from any stimulus, excitement to the opposite sex. Dance is but the rhythmic expression of action and activities of life on the upper part of the body. 4) The artist never looks at any person or audience as a mark of concentration to the Lord surrendering the outward world and illusions of Maya and also giving up all lust, greed, anger, envy, hatred and pride of the dancers.
5) The steps of dancing are very much acute and complex and never show outward feeling of lust and amorous play.
Manipuri Dance Forms:There are about 8 manipuri dance forms.Two of my favourite dance forms are detailed below.
1. Manipuri Ras Leela:
Manipuri dance is purely religious and its aim is a spiritual experience. Development of music and dance has through religious festivals and daily activities of the Manipuri people. Not only is dance a medium of worship and enjoyment, a door to the divine, but indispensable for all socio-cultural ceremonies. From the religious point of view and from the artistic angle of vision, Manipuri Classical Form of dance is claimed to be one on the most chestiest, modest, softest and mildest but the most meaningful dances of the world.
The most obliging aspect of Manipuri culture is that, it has retained the ancient ritual based dances and folk dances along with the later developed classical Manipuri dance style. Among the classical categories, 'Ras Leela' - a highly evolved dance drama, choreographed on 'Vaishnavite Padavalis' composed by mainly eminent Bengali poets and some Manipuri Gurus, is the highest expression of artistic genius, devotion and excellence of the Manipuris.
Manipuri Style of Dance:
For the Manipuris, dancing for the sake of dancing and contract system was almost unknown. Dance performances were done before the deities of the people with great huility and submission for the pleasure of the deities.From the sacred texts, we can point here some characteristic features of Manipuri dancing which are as under -
1) The place where dance are held are sacred. It is considered to be a crime or sin to violate the rules. Anytime, anyplace is not good enough.
2) Dances are devotional or ritualistic rather than entertainment of the eyes. It is a Sadhan-Bhakti -kind of devotion to God for both the dancers and onlookers.
3) The dressing is so designed as to free them from any stimulus, excitement to the opposite sex. Dance is but the rhythmic expression of action and activities of life on the upper part of the body. 4) The artist never looks at any person or audience as a mark of concentration to the Lord surrendering the outward world and illusions of Maya and also giving up all lust, greed, anger, envy, hatred and pride of the dancers.
5) The steps of dancing are very much acute and complex and never show outward feeling of lust and amorous play.
Manipuri Dance Forms:There are about 8 manipuri dance forms.Two of my favourite dance forms are detailed below.
1. Manipuri Ras Leela:
It is said that when Krishna, Radha and the Gopies danced the Ras Leela, Shiva made sure that no one disturbed the beauty of the dancing. Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva also wished to see this dance, so to please her, he chose the beautiful area of Manipur and re-enacted the Ras Leela. Maharaja Bhagya Chandra Singha - King of Manipur introduced the "Manipuri Maha Rasleela " in the Manipur valley during his reign. It ushered in a new era in the development of this style. The Ras Lila, the epitome of Manipuri classical dance is inter-woven through the celestial and eternal love of Radha
and Krishna as has been described in the Hindu scriptures and reveals the sublime and transcendental love of Krishna and Radha and the Gopies 's devotion to the Lord. It is generally performed in an enclosure in front of the temple throughout the night and watched with a deep sense of devotion.
2. Khamba Thoibi:
and Krishna as has been described in the Hindu scriptures and reveals the sublime and transcendental love of Krishna and Radha and the Gopies 's devotion to the Lord. It is generally performed in an enclosure in front of the temple throughout the night and watched with a deep sense of devotion.
2. Khamba Thoibi:
Khamba Thoibi dance is a duet of male and female partners, a dance of dedication to the sylvan deity, Thangjing of Moirang , is the depiction of the dance performed by Khamba and Thoibi. This dance form is performed either as part of Lai- Harouba or independently. This dance typically represents the Tandava and Lsya aspects of Laiharouba movements. In the Khamba -Thoibi tells the story of Khamba, a poor brave lad of khumal clan who fell in love with Thoibi, a princess of Morang.In 15th century AD, Khamba, a prince of the previously routed Khumal Royal family fell in love with Thoibi - a princess of the Moirang clan .My experiences:
My first dance was when I was 4/5 yrs old, I was part of the Ras Leela held in our locality. The preparation for that dance starts at least about 6 months prior to the day. This is really a very sacred period not only for the dancer, but for the entire family members of the dancers. I depicted one of the Gopis in that Ras Leela and how I have love to wear the beutiful poloi. Couple of days prior to the Grand do, there is a ritual of performing pujas for the purification of the place where the dance is suppose to perfom. We start dressing up from the afternoon for the evening dance, make up artist are called to dress us all, there were quite a number of us to be dressed for the dance, at least 20 of us. I still remember telling my mom to order a poloi which is long enough to cover my ankles as I thought it will hide my step from the audience even if I miss one. Unluckily I didn't get what I want but my first dance really gone off well. The best part is after the dance ( for a kid ), we were not allowed to walk, we were supposed to be carried by elders and put to sleep on the bed. This is done because the performers are considered like god for that day. What a beautiful experience, isn't it??
Lai Harouba, a festival for the local gods is again one festival I loved as it involves lots of dancing and it goes for 5/15 days. Everyday, dressing up in beautiful crisp dancing dress, a mapan naiba ( a sarong kind) with a beautifully startch white dupatta. The beauty of this dance is the uniformaity of all the performers, there is never a practice for this dance, however everybody performs in same dress and at the same rhythm. Rightly said all manipuris are born dancers!
And after this I have dance uncountable numbers of time till I was 15 yrs old. I have lost touch with dance after I left home to pursue further studies.Sad!
2 comments:
Hi dolly
I am posted in manipur and i had an oppurtunity to be a chief guest in a school function near maibam. There were children displaying dance forms and also some sweet music played on the flute. Needless to say, it was exquisite.
It was indeed a pleasure to learn the aesthetic values and socio-religious importance of "Manipuri Jagoi"
Shakmacha Nongmaithem
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