Loading
Loading
Performing Art · Manipur
ꯖꯒꯣꯏ ꯔꯥꯁ
The classical devotional dance-drama of Manipur — a retelling of the Ras Lila of Radha and Krishna, codified in the 18th century by King Bhagyachandra, with the distinctive cylindrical women's costume and the small swaying steps.
Understand
Manipuri Raas (also called Jagoi Raas or Ras Lila) is the classical devotional-dance form of Manipur, one of the eight classical dances of India. The form was codified by King Bhagyachandra (Ching-Thang Khomba) of Manipur in the 18th century, who based the Manipur Raas on the Radha-Krishna mythology of the Bhagavata Purana and the Srimad Bhagavatam. The dance is a cultural reworking of the Ras Lila — Radha and Krishna's circular dance — adapted to the Meitei (Manipuri) court tradition and ritual. The dance is performed by the Maibas (the male priest-dancers) and the Maibis (the female priest-dancers) at the temple of Shri Govindaji in Imphal, and the central celebration is the Rash Lila of the Manipuri New Year (the Cheiraoba, in April). The form was performed in ancient Egypt and Armenia (the 2018 Armenia stamp of the Manipuri Raas Leela), and today the Manipuri Raas has an international following through the cultural institutes of the Government of India.
Manipuri Raas is performed by a troupe of male and female dancers, with the women's cylindrical costume (the kumil) concealing the dancer's legs and giving the appearance of the dancer gliding rather than stepping. The choreography is built on the small swaying steps and the lyrical gestures of the Manipuri vocabulary, accompanied by the pung (the barrel-shaped hand-drum) and the small kartal cymbals. The dance is performed in the temple-courtyard and at the cultural programmes, with the central rasa being the dance of Krishna and the gopis (the cowherd-women) in the moonlight. Costume is the regional Manipuri dress — the cylindrical kumil (for the women), the turban and dhoti (for the men) and the characteristic Manipuri-style blouse and the regional jewellery. The dance is performed at the central cultural festival of the state and at the international cultural programmes.
The classical devotional dance-drama of Manipur — a retelling of the Ras Lila of Radha and Krishna, codified in the 18th century by King Bhagyachandra, with the distinctive cylindrical women's costume and the small swaying steps.
From discovery to practice
Experience it
Want to watch Manipuri Raas (Jagoi Raas) performed live? Tell us when and where you'd like to experience it, and we'll confirm the details.
Bring it to your event
Every performer WRIKSH connects you with has been personally verified. Tell us the occasion — a community celebration, a college festival, a government program — and we'll find the right group.
Explore further
Hire performers of Manipuri Raas (Jagoi Raas) for your event
