Art and Craft

Art and Craft/Dress and Design: It is said that the goddess Panthoibi drew her inspiration for weaving from a spider making cobwebs in a corner.Womenfolk alone are the weavers. Intricate designs are woven on sarees, sarongs, shawls and bedspreads. Manipur pottery is crafted without a potter’s wheel. It is a rare experience to witness the potters of Andro, Thongjao and Nungbi deftly moulding an unbelievable range of earthenware. Beautiful pieces of art made out of cane and bamboo form an important part of manipuri handicrafts. Lifan, Phak (weed mats), Phiruk, Manipuri Dolls and a host of other beautiful carvings from rare and exotic varieties of timber etc. give aesthetic feeling to the products of Manipur. (Picture above: Pung Cholom : a drum dance)

Passion and Rhythm

Its classical and folk dance forms best represent Manipur. Ras Leela songs and dances depict the leelas (sports) of Lord Krishna as a child with the Gopis, and express their yearning for communion with the Lord. The Ras dances are essentially lyrical and have extremely graceful movements.

A spring festival, the Lai- haraoba, held in April- may is symbolised by a traditional, stylised and ritualistic dance performed for peace and prosperity.

The tribal folk- dances are an expression of nature, creativity and aestheticism of the tribal way of life.