Ras leela of Manipur

Two young dancers portray Lord Krishna and Radha in Ras Leela.Both dancers are members of artistic families. Thounaojam Lalitkanta, portraying Krishna, is grandson of Sarangthem Guru Meitei Tomba, and son of Ojha Thambaltombi Devi, Principal of Manipur State Dance College. Moirangthem Noopur, as Radha, is daughter of Moirangthem Guru Nabaghana Shyam Singha and Christel Stevens of Nritya Rangam/Temple of Dance in Maryland, U.S.A.

"Vaishnavism expressed itself in the new very important ritual dance-drama, the 'Ras', a creation of the Meiteis conceived by King Bhagyachandra of Manipur who was himself a saintly devotee of Shri Krishna. This king, inspired by a religious dream, caused a statue of Krishna, cut from a jackfruit tree, to be placed in a new palace temple called Manipur Govindaji. In the Mandop (arena) attached to this temple, centering around the statue, with his own daughter playing the part of Krishna's beloved Radha, the first 'Ras' dance-drama was performed; and it has now become the heritage of Meiteis who perform it yearly." Louise Lightfoot, Dance Rituals of Manipur, India.

Pung cholom

Pung or Manipuri Mridanga is the soul of Manipuri Sankritana music and Classical Manipuri Dance. It assumes an important ritual character, an indispensable part of all social and devotional ceremonies in Manipur, - the instrument itself becoming an object of veneration. Pung Cholom is performed as an invocatory number preceding the Sankirtana and Ras Lila. It is a highly refined classical dance number characterised by the modulation of sound from a soft whisper to a thunderous climax. There is the interplay of intricate rhythms and cross rhythms with varying markings of time from the slow to the quick with graceful and vigorous body movements leading to ecstatic heights.

RAS- LEELA OF MANIPUR

Manipuri is one of the most beautiful dance styles of India. Nurtured in the mountainous region of the northeast, it takes its name from the name of the area, Manipur, which is now a state. Manipur literally means a jewel of a land, and the state is set like a gem in the verdant hills. The legend goes that the gods drained a lake in the beautiful countryside in order to find a place to dance. No wonder then, that dance is an inherent part of the rituals of daily life, such as weddings and homage to ancestors.






Among the important constituents of the Manipuri repertoire are the Sankirtana and the Raas Leela, based on the devotional theme of Krishna and Radha. The Raas Leela depicts the cosmic dance of Krishna and the cowherd maidens. The beautiful embroidered skirts of the dancers, long and flared from the waist, and the transluscent veils, along with Krishna's costume with the tall peacock feather crown, add to the radiant appearance of this dance, as the performers sway and twirl to an ascending tempo.

The Ras Lila, the epitome of Manipuri classical dance is inter-woven through the celestial and eternal love of Radha and Krishna as has been described in the Hindu scriptures and reveals the sublime and transcendental love of Krishna and Radha and the Gopies' devotion to the Lord. It is generally performed in an enclosure in front of the temple throughout the night and watched with a deep sense of devotion. Ras performances are seasonal and varied and performed at the temple of Shree Shree Govindajee in Imphal on the nights of Basanta Purnima, Sarada Purnima and Kartik Purnima and at local temples later. As to the composition, the performance is a combination of solo, duet and group dances. This highly stylised form of dance has sublimity, subtlety and grace. The richness of the costumes gives lustre to the beauty of the art.