NAIROBI, AFRICA, January 7, 2017 (Daily Nation, by Allaudin Qureshi): While relaxing with family and friends at the coast during the Christmas and New Year break, I had the opportunity to watch a recording of Manipuri, a classical and ritualistic dance style. It brought back fond memories of watching a troupe from India perform the dance in Nairobi a decade or so ago.
Manipuri is an inherent part of the rituals of the daily life of communities in the mountainous region of North East India, Manipur. The main attraction of the dance is the beautiful costumes. The long flared embroidered skirts, translucent veils and peacock feather crowns are breathtaking.
Manipuri is a sophisticated story telling art form that glorifies the feats of religious or mythological characters. The style banks heavily on Hindu deities like Krishna and his favorite Gopi Radhika. During a performance, the dancer offers prayers to the Deity that he or she is glorifying. Manipuri was initially performed in temples and made its way to the stage only during the last century after receiving encouragement from poet, playwright, philosopher and Nobel Laureate Guru Rabindranath Tagore.