Manipuri Dance, one of the most lyrical and graceful classical dance styles of India, hails from the north-eastern state of Manipur. Dance and music are integral to the social and religious lives of the Manipuri people. The dances in Manipur are a combination of ancient rituals and devotional Vaishnavite dances.
For example, during the ancient dance festival Lai haraoba, the priestesses - Maibis - worship local gods while describing the primitive concept of cosmology. At other times, Sankirtan (community prayer) and Ras leelas (dance dramas) based on the lives of Hindu gods Krishna and Radha are performed in the temple courtyards.
Drums and cymbal dances are interwoven into the performances. Typical sets of colorful costumes, ornaments, decor and music have evolved over the years.
Since the 1700s, with the advent of Guadiya Vaishnavism (a devotional cult of Hindusim) in Manipur, stories of the divine love of Krishna and Radha have permeated the religious and social festivals of Manipur.
Devotional dances are therefore performed in the masculine style of Krishna and the feminine style of Radha. Devotional dances can last hours at a stretch in the temple courtyards.
The dance and music were handed down the generations through the oral practices of the Guru Shisya Parampara (teacher-student tradition).
Darshana Jhaveri, in collaboration with Guru Bipin Singh strove to preserve the rich knowledge despite the advent of modernity and the deaths of the great Gurus. Since 1956, Darshana Jhaveri visited Manipur more than 30 times and carefully recorded the oral tradition.
Together with her sisters, under the guidance of Guru Bipin Singh, Darshana Jhaveri has bought the traditional dances of Manipur from the temples to the theater while maintaining the integrity of the dances.
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Darshana Jhaveri and her dance group performing Khubak Eshei |
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* Information provided by Pankhuri Agrawal, graduate of Haverford College, Philadelphia, US, is the dance tour co-ordinator (along with Jonathan Hollander). She has studied Manipuri Dance since childhood under the direction of the Jhaveri Sisters and Latasana Devi.
This article was webcasted on August 30th, 2007
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