Manipuri Sankirtana is a form of performing art involving ritual singing, drumming and dancing performed in the temples and domestic spaces in Manipur .
It is practised at the centre of a temple, where performers narrate the lives and deeds of Krishna through songs and dance.
It is practiced primarily by the Vaishnava community in Manipur and by the Vaishnava Manipuri population settled in the neighbouring States of Tripura and Assam.
HERITAGE STATUS
“Sankirtana: Ritual singing, drumming and dancing of Manipur” was inscribed on the Representative List of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2013.
THE PERFORMANCE
In a typical performance, two drummers and about ten singer-dancers perform in a hall or domestic courtyard encircled by seated devotees.
The dignity and flow of aesthetic and religious energy is unparalleled, moving audience members to tears.
SOCIAL SIGNIFICANCE OF MANIPURI SANKIRTANA
Sankirtana brings people together on festive occasions throughout the year, acting as a cohesive force within Manipur’s Vaishnav community. It establishes and reinforces relationships between the individual and the community through life-cycle ceremonies.
It can also be regarded as a vibrant practice promoting an organic relationship with people.
The whole society is involved in its safeguarding, with the specific knowledge and skills traditionally transmitted from mentor to disciple.
Sankirtana works in harmony with the natural world, whose presence is acknowledged through its many rituals.
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
QUES . With reference to Manipuri Sankirtana, consider the following statements: UPSC 2017
1 . It is a song and dance performance
2 . Cymbals are the only musical instruments used in the performance
3 . It is performed to narrate the life and deeds of Lord Krishna.
Which of the statements given above is/ are correct?
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1 only
Ans (b)
