The legacy of Manipuri Dance: Tradition, Evolution, and Global Relevance

- Dr. Amrita Sengupta Dutta
e-mail: dramritasenguptadutta@gmail.com
Photos: Gopinath Roy

January 22, 2026

National Seminar on Manipuri Dance titled 'The Legacy of Manipuri Dance: Tradition, Evolution, and Global Relevance' by Guru Darshana Jhaveri and Professor Dr Sruti Bandopadhyay.

Organized by: Department of Dance, Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata
Date: 14th January 2026
Venue: Uday Shankar Hall, Department of Dance, Rabindra Bharati University.

1. Introduction
A National Seminar on Manipuri Dance, themed "The Legacy of Manipuri Dance: Tradition, Evolution, and Global Relevance," was conducted by the Department of Dance, Rabindra Bharati University on 14th January 2026. The seminar aimed to explore the spiritual, aesthetic, philosophical, and historical dimensions of Manipuri dance, along with its transformation over time and its influence on other Indian dance forms - particularly Rabindranritya.

In the inaugural session, two eminent scholars and practitioners - Guru Darshana Jhaveri and Professor Dr. Sruti Bandopadhyay, Principal, Sangeet Bhavana, Visva-Bharati University - graced the occasion as keynote speakers and delivered insightful lectures, complemented by discussions and live demonstrations.

2. Inaugural Proceedings

Felicitation by the coordinator Prof. Dr Madhuri Majumdar and convenor Prof. Rahul Dev Mondal

The seminar commenced with the traditional lighting of the lamp, inaugurated by:
Two honourable speakers along with Professor Dr. Madhuri Majumdar, Faculty Member, Department of Dance and Professor Rahul Dev Mondal, Convener of the Seminar, Teacher-in-Charge, Department of Dance and also present there were other teaching faculties.

The programme was efficiently compered by Dr. Kaberi Sen, Guest Teacher of the Department. The organizational responsibilities were skilfully managed by Dr. Arpita Venkatesh, Dr. Debasmita Mukherjee and other faculty members, whose efforts ensured the smooth execution of the seminar.

The active participation and cooperation of all faculty members, administrative staff, and students of the department played a significant role in the successful completion of the event.

3. Session I - Lecture by Guru Darshana Jhaveri

Guru Darshana Jhaveri

Guru Darshana Jhaveri presented an in-depth lecture on the spiritual and ritualistic foundations of Manipuri dance. Her key points included:

The origin of Manipuri dance in temple traditions.
Significance of Lai Haraoba and its cosmological beliefs.
The strong influence of Vaishnavite culture.
Dance as a medium of devotion through gesture and movement.
Different types of Rasa dances in Manipuri tradition.
Importance of Sankirtan.
Use of traditional musical instruments such as pung and kartal.
Contribution of Bipin Singh to Manipuri dance.
Structure and application of Brahma Taal and Rupak Taal.

She was assisted by eminent Manipuri practitioners Paushali Chatterjee and Dr. Bimbavati Devi as demonstrators, both of whom made a substantial and noteworthy contribution to the session. Through audio-visual presentations and demonstrations, she illustrated various Manipuri choreographic styles and discussed the evolution of the dance from temple rituals to contemporary stage performances, highlighting the challenges faced during this transition.

4. Session II - Lecture by Professor Dr. Sruti Bandopadhyay

Professor Sruti Bandopadhyay

Professor Sruti Bandopadhyay focused on the philosophical and aesthetic evolution of Manipuri dance. Her major areas of discussion included:

Concept of Ujjala Rasa (Madhur Rasa) in Manipuri tradition.
Comparison between Sringara Rasa in Natyashastra and Ujjala Rasa in Manipuri dance.
Sringara as human romance vs. Ujjala as devotional love.
Relationship between Sadhana and Mukti (liberation).
Comparison of Rati Bhava (Natyashastra) and Priti Bhava (Vaishnavism).
Explanation of Pancha Dasa Bhavas:

Shanta (Jnanabhakti)
Dasya
Sakhya
Vatsalya
Ujjala (Madhurya)

She further explained the concepts of Vipralambha (separation) and Sambhoga (union) and their subdivisions.
She emphasized four core elements of Manipuri dance:

Tala (rhythm)
Pada (movement)
Raga (melody)
Gayeki (vocal style)

She concluded that the harmonious blending of these elements transforms Manipuri performance into an act of prayer.

5. Influence of Manipuri Dance on Rabindranritya

The session also discussed the impact of Manipuri dance on Rabindranritya, particularly:

The role of Nabakumar Singh in introducing Manipuri elements to Santiniketan.
The significance of "Natir Puja", Tagore's first dance drama.
Tagore's vision of dance as devotion rather than entertainment.
Live demonstrations illustrated how Manipuri steps were first presented in classical form and later adapted into Rabindranritya choreography.

Practical demonstration by Visva-Bharati scholars under Prof Bandopadhyay's guidance.

Professor Bandyopadhyay was further assisted by selected students and research scholars from Visva-Bharati University, including Shreya Mahato, Amrita Ghosh, Ratri Manik, Rajlakshmi Ghosh, and Samapti Chattopadhyay who also played a significant and constructive role in the session.

6. Outcome of the Seminar
The seminar successfully:

Enhanced academic understanding of Manipuri dance.
Strengthened appreciation of its spiritual and philosophical depth.
Highlighted its evolution from temple to stage.
Demonstrated its influence on Rabindranritya.
Encouraged scholarly discussion and practical engagement among students and researchers.

7. Conclusion
The National Seminar on "The Legacy of Manipuri Dance: Tradition, Evolution, and Global Relevance" by department of dance, Rabindra Bharati University, was an intellectually enriching and artistically inspiring event. It served as a significant academic platform for dialogue between tradition and modernity in Indian classical dance. The lectures, discussions, and performances collectively contributed to a deeper understanding of Manipuri dance as a devotional, aesthetic, and evolving classical art form.

Data courtesy: Meghna Thakur, M.A. 3rd Semester, Dance Department, RBU

Dr. Amrita Sengupta Dutta is a scholar, performer, and Guest Faculty in the Department of Dance at Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata. A Ph.D. holder and UGC-NET-qualified academic, she has served as a Senior Research Fellow at RBU. A recipient of the National Scholarship from the Ministry of Culture and a B-graded artist of Kolkata Doordarshan, Dr. Sengupta Dutta has authored three books and numerous research papers on Indian dance and culture. She is currently engaged in a research project funded by the Ministry of Culture, contributing significantly to the preservation and evolution of Indian performing arts.