Manipuri (Manipur)

Key Pointers

Origin: Meitei culture of Manipur; Lai Haraoba (ritual festival of gods) is the oldest root; later fused with Vaishnavism.
Raas Lila: Dance form centred on Radha–Krishna; the Maha Raas was created by King Bhagyachandra (Rajarshi) in the 18th century.
Features:
- Soft, gentle, lyrical movements with delicate hand gestures; no ghungroos in the female dances; Tandava and Lasya elements.
- Sankirtana tradition (Nat Sankirtana) with Pung (drum) and kartal (cymbals): inscribed by UNESCO on the Intangible Cultural Heritage list (2013).
- Pung Cholom (drum dance), Dhol Cholom.
Costume: Kumil (stiff, barrel-shaped skirt) with a transparent veil; Potloi (cylindrical skirt) for Radha; male dancers wear dhoti and crown with peacock feathers.
Associated: Thang-Ta (martial arts); folk epics Khamba-Thoibi.
Spread: Rabindranath Tagore introduced Manipuri at Shantiniketan.
Exponents: Jhaveri sisters (Nayana, Ranjana, Suverna, Darshana), Guru Bipin Singh, Rajkumar Singhajit Singh.

MCQs

Q1. Which dance form is characterised by the absence of ghungroos in female dances and the barrel-shaped 'Kumil' costume?
(a) Manipuri
(b) Sattriya
(c) Odissi
(d) Kuchipudi
Answer: (a).

Q2. Who is credited with creating the Maha Raas of Manipuri?
(a) Sankaradeva
(b) King Bhagyachandra
(c) Siddhendra Yogi
(d) Jayadeva
Answer: (b).

Q3. Pung Cholom is a drum dance associated with:
(a) Sattriya
(b) Manipuri
(c) Kathak
(d) Bharatanatyam
Answer: (b).