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India Manipuri - Travel guide

India

Manipuri

The Manipuris have song and dance woven in to their lives and regard themselves as the descendents of the Gandharvas. Their love for dance reflects their rich lore of legend and mythology.

There is no authoritative record of the history of Manipur's dance and music prior to the 18th Century AD.

However the lasting developments in technique and methods took place during the time of Jai Singh (1764-1789), who was a great devotee of Lord Krishna and a follower of Vaishnavism.

Among the legendary and mythological tales, the Rasa Lila, dance performed by Shiva and Parvati and Lai Haraoba of Khamba and Thoibi the celebrated lovers, deserves special mention.

In the Ras Lila, the movements are extremely graceful coupled with soft and light steps in which the heels never touch down. The dancers have a fixed angelic expression on their face. The costume is extremely colourful and glittering.

Lai Haraoba is the oldest dance form of Manipur and belongs to the pre Vaishnava period. The dance style is diffused and meandering. The dancers make stylised hand and body movements, but the face remains blank. The steps are gentle yet powerful.

Even today dancing remains a key element in the art and daily ritual of Manipur.