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A different show indeed
A.D. RANGARAJAN
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Artistes from Manipur portrayed the grace of Radha-Krishna in their true style.
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Photo: K.V. Poornachandra Kumar
Highlight number Artistes performing ’Vasanta Rasa Lila’.
A Manipuri dance concert was performed at the ISKCON’s Lotus temple complex here recently which attempted to portray and glorify the Radha-Krishna link in the Manipuri tradition. The performance also included the valorous martial arts associate
d with the dance form.
The concert was presented by Ranganiketan, a brainchild of ISKCON founder Sri Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, whose disciple Srila Bhaktisvarupa Damodar Swami (known as Dr T.D. Singh in scientific circles) got it registered as a cultural troupe in Manipur in 1989.
The ‘Dhol Dholak Cholam’, a drum dance featuring Holi turned out to be a highlight. The drummers performed intricate rhythms while executing ‘Cholam’, graceful and dynamic body movements. As for the next item Maibi dance, the practice of ‘Maibis’ (traditional priestesses of Manipur) in tracing the history and growth of the civilization was well portrayed in the form of a complex dance ritual. A popular folk dance of Manipur ‘Lai Haraoba’ (meaning ‘Joyful festivities of God’) was about the seasons in the temple grounds of ‘Umang Lai’, the sylvan gods, where ancient traditional musical and percussion instruments were used. The ‘Kabui Shim Lam’ (fly dance) took the audience to the exotic surroundings of a mountainous Kabui Naga village. Even today, the Kabui people perform the dance during sowing and harvest festivals. Pung Cholam, an acrobatic drum dance, was another highlight. The usage of Pung (Manipuri classical drum), an indispensable part of the social and religious lives of Manipuri Vaishnavas, was well received by the audience.
The sublimity of Rasa Lila is about the yearning of the individual soul to surrender to the Lord, thereby attaining transcendent happiness. ‘Vasanta Rasa Lila’, performed on the spring full-moon night, is about Krishna playing on his mystical flute near Yamuna in Vrindavan to woo Radha Rani and other Gopikas. This dance is a gift from Rajarshi Bhagyachandra Maharaj, the ruler of Manipur during the 18th century, who is believed to have obtained the ‘Vasanta Rasa Lila’ in a divine vision.
Though martial arts evolved in various forms from Karate in the Far East to ‘Kalari Payattu’ in Kerala, the Manipuri styles were indeed different. The artistes performed ‘Thangpak Yannava’ where scimitar-like swords were used to display force and dexterity. ‘Aniga-Amaga Yannava’ (two-against-one fighting) proved a historical point that the Manipuris had to defend themselves from the marauding Burmese, who outnumbered them 40 to 1.
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Friday Review
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
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