Manipur Artists

Manipur's artists have given India one of its classical dances, a living tradition of ritual singing and some of the country's most admired theatre.

Dance and music

Manipuri dance, with the Ras Lila stories of Radha and Krishna, is one of India's eight classical dances; Guru Bipin Singh did much to teach and spread it. Sankirtana, the ritual singing, drumming and dancing of Manipur's Vaishnavas, is on UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. In Pung Cholom, drummers dance and leap while playing the pung.

Theatre

Ratan Thiyam's Chorus Repertory Theatre and Heisnam Kanhailal's Kalakshetra Manipur, both in Imphal, have staged Manipuri plays around the world. Shumang Leela, courtyard theatre in which men play the women's parts, is performed across the valley.

Crafts and cinema

Longpi black pottery from Ukhrul, handloom weaving and Thang-Ta, the martial art, are part of Manipur's heritage. The director Aribam Syam Sharma's films brought Manipuri cinema to international festivals.

Sources

• Manipur Tourism: Government of Manipur
• North East Zone Cultural Centre: Dimapur (Ministry of Culture)
• Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre: Kolkata (Ministry of Culture)
• Sangeet Natak Akademi: India's national academy of music, dance and drama (Ministry of Culture)