Manipuri

Manipuri Dance is a generic name and covers all the dance-forms of the land, Manipur.

Manipuri Dance can be called a house of many mansions. There is a belief that Radha and Krishna were the original author and creator of Manipuri Dance. This Rasa -dance was repeated by Uma and Shiva in Lasya style in Manipur. After many centuries the same Rasa-dance was performed the third time by two mortal human beings, princess Toibi and Khamba. These two star-crossed lovers died in tragic circumstances. The dance than these two lovers performed is known as Lai Haraoba. There are many myths and legends which reveal the Manipuris passionate love for arts, particularly for dance, music and mime. These are woven into the very fabric of their life like a beautiful pattern.

Today Manipuri Dance has become a ruling passion and an aesthetic obsession for initiated artists and the spectators alike because of its colourful adornment, lightness of dancing foot, delicacy of abhinaya, lilting music and poetic charm.

Manipuri is the traditional dance of Manipur. The Manipuris are considered descendants of Gandarva, the legendary musicians and dancers in the celestial court of Lord Indira. The origin of the word Manipuri can be traced to the legends. According to the legend, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati are said to have danced in the valleys of Manipur, accompanied by the Gandharvas to the celestial light of the Mani or jewel from the head of the serpent Athishesha.

Manipuri lays emphasis in involving the entire body in the dance other than the facial expression. The principal dance item in Manipuri is Ras, which depicts bhakti rasa. The innumerable escapes of Lord Krishna are depicted in Ras. This form of dance lays emphasis on lyrical grace and delicacy of hand gestures.

The Chooloms is another form of Manipuri, which includes vigorous tandava items and fast rhythms. Choolams involves singing and dancing, directed towards achieving the union of god. In Choolams, Poong Choolam is danced by men holding drums, and Kartal Choolam by both men and women using cymbals in their hands.

Lai Haraoba is another form of Manipuri, which portrays the creation of universe. The costumes used in this form of dance are ornamental and rich in colors.