Manipuri - Music, Costumes & Ensembles
The musical accompaniment to Manipuri dances is played on an instrument
rather like a guitar called the khol, and the mridangam. But sometimes the
singing is done by a group whose members do not join in the dance. When the
drummer and the dancer together execute certain quick talas, each in his own
medium, the tempo of the dance increases and the quick rhythmic pattern is
enchanting to watch.
The costumes are very picturesque. The women wear a tight-fitting conical
cap of black velvet or other material, trimmed with a border of synthetic
pearls, under a thin white veil. Modern dancers often discard the cap in favour
of a bun on top and to the side of the head, and haloed with flowers. The choli
or tight fitting bodice is usually of velvet with tight sleeves trimmed with
gold embroidery. The gagra or flounced skirt is of a striking colour, yellow,
red or green and usually of silk with a wide border at the bottom of the
skirt consisting of a design of sequins. Tiny square, round or oval mirrors are
scattered all over the skirt, which has a transparent Muslim garment over
it, embroidered with silver thread. As the dancers swirl round, the
flashing mirrors reflecting the light produce a striking effect.
The male dancer wears a dhoti with embroidered bands across his chest ending
in flaps that fall over both hips. In the Ras-Leela, Krishna is gorgeously
attired in a pleated dhoti of gold or yellow silk, the chest being covered with
glittering necklaces while wristlets and armlets adorn the arms.
The Rasa dances go on for several hours at a stretch. The honeyed melodies
Meera, Krishna's disciple are also greatly in vogue. The ritualistic dances have
Krishna as the central figure. Manipuri dancers firmly believe that when they
dance the gods descend to earth to join their revelry. The name Lai Horaopa
signified 'sporting or making merry with the gods. Girls, gaily dressed, begin
the dance with offerings of flowers and fruits. The men then join in and pick their
partners. Actually this dance is the Shiva-Parvati done in the Manipuri
technique. It is very robust.
The animism of the Manipuris, preceding their conversion to Hinduism, has
left its stamp on their dance art and in the Lai Hairobi it is pronounced. This
is an annual ceremony performed in every village for the purpose of propitiating
its Lai, i.e. god's seat or the dwelling of Lam.
