Description
Very little is known about ancient Manipur; there is no coherent account of its heroic kings or of the vicissitudes of history that shaped the destiny of this region and its people. The inhabitants of the valley belonged to seven different clans that eventually coalesced into what is still known as the Meitei community. Meitei dances consisted primarily of ritualistic dances. The entire community was involved in these ritual celebrations and the performances were suffused with spiritual fervour. In the 18th century, Vaishnavism became the accepted religion of the Manipuris, and the synthesis of diverse philosophical and cultural elements inspired a number of creative dance forms — folk, festival, and classical. This volume focuses on the Vaishnavite classical dances of the region.