History

The past and origin of Manipuri dance is not clear. There are many myths and legends that have been associated with it.The Manipuris consider themselves the descendants of the Gandharvas. Gandharvas were the legendary musicians, and dancers in the celestial courts of Indira king of 'Swarg' or Heaven . The earliest records of this dance form date back to about 100 AD.  King Bhagyachandra of 17th century, established Manipuri dance on a systematic basis. He gave the Rasleelas (dance dramas) and Sankirtan (form of invocation) a new outlook and composed three of the five types of Ras Lilas - the Maha Ras, the Basanta Ras and the Kunja Ras.

 King Bhagyachandra also designed the beautiful Manipuri dance costume. In the 19th century, Maharaja Gambhir Singh composed the two parengs of the tandava type - the Goshtha Bhangi Pareng and the Goshtha Vrindaban Pareng. During this time, Maharaja Chandra Kirti Singh shaped the 64 Pung choloms or drum dances and two parengs of the Lasya type - the Vrindaban Bhangi Pareng and Khrumba Bhangi Pareng. Nitya Ras have also been accredited to him. However, it was the continuous efforts of Rabindranath Tagore and other Gurus that the dance became popular even outside the region. Unlike many other dance forms, Manipuri has retained its ancient ritual based dances and folk dances along with the later developed classical Manipuri dance style.
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