Dance in Manipur

Dance in manipur
There are six major classical dances in India. Manipur dance is one. It is local to the northeastern state of Manipur nestling among the lower Himalayan ranges. The music is quaint and so are the colourful distinctive costumes worn by the dancers.

The dance is an overflowing expression of spiritual experience. Experts opine that it is the gentlest, purest and meaningful dances of the subcontinent.

There are many dance forms under the common name of Manipur dance. Legend says that Radha and Krishna were the original creators. Manipur has preserved this ancient ritual based dance forms.

The dance is a living tradition in Manipur and part of their daily life. Manipuri dance is performed in temples on holy days and is known as sankirtan.

There are many dances under this one name but primarily it refers to the two types - Ras Lila and Pung Cholon.

Music and Poets:
Unique music matches the dancing – generally similar to North Indian Hindustani music, with differences in name and presentation. Instruments are not merely accompaniments but a central part of the dance. The dances are basically linked with the cymbals (manjira or kartal) and the cylindrical drum called mridang or pune.

Other instruments are the pena, harmonium, flute, conch shell and esraj. The songs with the dances are classical renderings by great poets like Jaydev, Vidyapati, Chandidas, Govindadas and Jnandas. The languages used are Sanskrit, Maithili together with Brijbhasa and others.

Dance forms:
The various forms are Ras Lila, Pung Cholon, Nupa Cholon, Thoboi amongst many others. The Ras Lila deals with the love of Krishna with the gopinis or milkmaids – physical love being taken as a symbol for spiritual desire. There are five Ras Lilas – Maha, Vasant, Kunja, Nitya and Divya Rasas. Other Rasas deal with various incidents in the life of Krishna like Karnabheda or piercing of the ear.

The dance is performed in front of the temple in the nat mandap. Pung Cholon is based upon the drum pung or mridang as a prelude to Ras Lila. Drums are played while dancing in acrobatic style with thrilling leaps and swirls. Other dances are the cymbal dance or Nupa Pala, the dance between two royal lovers is Khamba Thoibi and the Maibi Dance narrating the life and living of the Meitei people.

King Khuyoi Tompok in the 2nd century patronized the arts and codified Manipuri dance tradition. But history says that Manipur took the form that we know today from the 15th century with the advent of Vaishnavism. It received royal patronage from a succession of kings – especially King Bhagyachandra.