Manipuri dance traces its origins to legendary depictions of Shiva and Parvati, whose divine dance is believed to have played a role in the creation of the universe.
The earliest form of this dance, Lai Haraoba, served as the foundation for all stylized dance traditions in Manipur.
With the introduction of Vaishnavism in the 15th century AD, the Radha-Krishna theme became central to the dance form.
The Raslila dances emerged under the patronage of King Bhagyachandra.
Some of the prominent forms of Manipuri dance include:
Ras – devotional dance depicting the love of Radha and Krishna
Sankirtana – a ritualistic performance combining dance and chanting
Thang Ta – a martial dance form
Manipuri dance also features a highly developed tala (rhythm) system.
The classical singing style of Manipur is known as Nat, and the primary accompanying instruments include:
Pung (a type of drum)
Pena (a stringed instrument)
Cymbals
Flute
