Khamba Thoibi Jagoi Explained

Khamba Thoibi Jagoi
Etymology: or
Genre:jagoi, classical dance, ritual dance, theatre dance (histrionic) ballet[1] [2] [3]
Inventor:Khuman Khamba and Moirang Thoibi
Origin:Ancient Moirang

Khamba Thoibi Jagoi, also known as Khamba Thoibi classical dance or Khamba Thoibi ballet,[4] [5] [6] is a traditional Meitei ritualistic and theatrical classical dance form,[7] which is usually enacted as a part and parcel of the Lai Haraoba performances,[8] dedicated to God omp|[[Thangching]]|[[Thangching|Thangjing]], the national deity of Ancient Moirang realm.[9] [10] [11] Notably, it is one of the cultural elements, giving inspirations to the development of the Manipuri Raas Leela classical dance drama form.[12]

The dance form is believed to be first performed by Khuman Khamba and Moirang Thoibi, in the premise of the deity.

Another remarkable achievement of Meitei cultural heritage, directly related to the Khamba Thoibi dance, is, the third longest Indian epic poem, next to the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, which is a classical Meitei language epic poem,[13] [14] [15] having 39,000 lines, recognised and honoured to be the national epic of the Manipuris, originated from the traditional ballads, popularly sung by minstrels or bards, by playing Pena (musical instrument).[16] [17] [18]

Origin

In Ancient Moirang, once Khuman Khamba and his rival Nongban (alias Kongyamba) were asked by the then ruling king, to bring rare orchid flowers from the hilly and mountainous terrains, for the celebration of the annual sacred Lai Haraoba festival in honour of deity omp|[[Thangching]]|[[Thangching|Thangjing]]. With great difficulty but by the grace of gods, Khamba brought finest of all the available flowers from the wilds, with extreme care. On the other hand, without any difficulty, Kongyamba brought some flowers which were messy due to his carelessness.[19] Kongyamba distributed the flowers to the King first and then to others. However, Khamba, being humble, sought advice from a high priestess, and first set flowers before deity Thangching, and then to the King, the Queen, the high officers of kingdom. Pleased with the courtesy, decorum and etiquette of Khamba, the royalties and nobles presented him rare gifts, many times more than the customary presents which Kongyamba received.[20] After Kongyamba and his wives had danced, Khamba and his lover Thoibi danced and sang before God Thangching, and their party was great, and the people gathered together and shouted with joy as they danced, whirling together, till at last they knelt in salutation before the God.[21]

Khamba Thoibi dance drama

In the 1960s, Mrs. Vimala Raina composed a new dance drama cum ballet, known as Khamba Thoibi dance drama, based on the traditions of Khamba and Thoibi. It was performed for the first time on 1 January 1960, in an event attended by Humayun Kabir, the then Union Minister for Scientific Research and Cultural Affairs of the Government of India. It was again performed in Delhi on 6 and 7 November 1961, where it was acclaimed by the Times of India.[22] The art form was later even witnessed by John Kenneth Galbraith, the then US Ambassador to India, and Mrs. J.K., Galbraith on 2 May 1962.[23] Afterwards, the Khamba Thoibi dance drama was staged multiple times in numerous places, where it was praised and appreciated.[24]

Influences to notable personalities & groups

Humayun Kabir
Times of India
The Baltimore Sun
Catherine Galbraith

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Banerji, Projesh . Indian Ballet Dancing . 1983 . 978-0-391-02716-9 . India . 74 . en.
  2. Book: Raina, Vimala . Khamba Thoibi And Poems On Manipur . 1963-01-18 . Digital Library of India. Manipur Government Press; Manipur University Library; North Eastern States Libraries . India . ii . en.
  3. Book: Banerji, Projesh . Indian Ballet Dancing . 1983 . 978-0-391-02716-9 . India . 77 . en.
  4. Book: Banerji, Projesh . Indian Ballet Dancing . 1983 . 978-0-391-02716-9 . India . 74 . en.
  5. Book: Raina, Vimala . Khamba Thoibi And Poems On Manipur . 1963-01-18 . Digital Library of India. Manipur Government Press; Manipur University Library; North Eastern States Libraries . India . ii . en.
  6. Book: Banerji, Projesh . Indian Ballet Dancing . 1983 . 978-0-391-02716-9 . India . 77 . en.
  7. —Book: Pathway Volume 41 . 1988 . University of Michigan
    Marg Foundation (Mumbai, India), Modern Architectural Research Group, Modern Artists and Architects Research Group, National Centre for the Performing Arts (India)
    . 41 . XV . en . First and foremost are the surviving ritual dances which have been absorbed into the repertoire. The Lai-haraoba and the Khamba Thoibi may be counted amongst these. Their historical and mythical theme makes them as classical as any of the later Vaishnavite dances..
    —Book: Doshi, Saryu . Dances of Manipur: The Classical Tradition . . 1989 . 978-81-85026-09-1 . XIX . Marg Publications . en . First and foremost are the surviving ritual dances which have been absorbed into the repertoire. The Lai-haraoba and the Khamba Thoibi may be counted amongst these. Their historical and mythical theme makes them as classical as any of the later Vaishnavite dances. They have an element of abhinaya (histrionic representation)....
    —Book: DM Silveira's India Book . 1994 . Classic Publishers . . 978-81-900218-2-1 . 230 . en . ...Lai Haraoba is the ritual folk-cum-classical dance of Manipur and tells the story of creation according to the Manipuris. Khamba Thoibi is a popular Manipuri dance which tells the story of princess Thoibi and poor boy Khamba....
    —Book: Mãrg . Pennsylvania State University. 41 . 109 . en . First and foremost are the surviving ritual dances which have been absorbed into the repertoire. The Lai-haraoba and the Khamba Thoibi may be counted amongst these. Their historical and mythical theme makes them as classical as any of the later Vaishnavite dances. They have an element of abhinaya histrionic representation)... . 1–2.
    —Web site: Khuraijam . Bobo . 2011-03-13 . Three Cheers – KanglaOnline . 2023-11-13 . en-US . ... Would it not be like asking for a Hip-Hop dance from a classical Khamba-Thoibi jagoi performance if we expect street aggression from our teachers? ....
  8. Book: Banerji, Projesh . Indian Ballet Dancing . 1983 . 978-0-391-02716-9 . India . 77 . en.
  9. Web site: khamba Thoibi Folk Dance of Manipur . 2021-02-07 . www.indianfolkdances.com.
  10. Web site: Everything Experiential Khamba Thoibi Dance . 2021-02-07 . Everything Experiential . en.
  11. Web site: 2012-03-19 . Khamba Thaibi Dance . 2021-02-07 . Indian Classical Folk & Tribal Dance . en-US.
  12. Book: Dances Of India . Har-Anand Publications Pvt. Limited . 2010 . 978-81-241-1337-0 . 19 . en . ...The Rasa Lila dances of Shiva and Parvati, Radha and Krishna, and the local deities Khamba and Thoibi form the foundation of the Manipuri dance....
  13. Web site: KanglaOnline . 2011-04-04 . The great Meitei Reconciliation Process: Revisiting the classical folklore on "Emoinu Chakhong Ngahongbi" by Late Shri Ningomabam Angouton Meetei – KanglaOnline . 2023-11-12 . en-US . ... The folklore of Emoinu Celebration from the story “Washak Ngakpa” meaning Keeping the Promise, written by Late Shri Ningombam Angouton Meetei and the classical love story “Khamba -Thoibi” are classical examples of successful reconciliation process of the old Meitei factions....
  14. Book: Delhi, All India Radio (AIR), New . https://books.google.com/books?id=xf_2DwAAQBAJ&dq=manipuri+classics&pg=PA7 . AKASHVANI: Vol. XXXIII, No.12 (17 MARCH, 1968) . 1968-03-17 . All India Radio (AIR), New Delhi . India . 7, 8 . en . Some Classics of Manipur . All India Radio.
  15. Book: Bond, Ruskin . https://books.google.com/books?id=NZv0AwAAQBAJ&pg=PT4 . The Penguin Book of Classical Indian Love Stories and Lyrics . 2000-10-14 . . 978-93-5118-814-8 . 3, 4 . en . The Story of Khamba and Thoibi . Ruskin Bond.
  16. Book: George, K. M. . Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Surveys and poems . 1992 . . 978-81-7201-324-0 . India . 258 . en . H. Anganghal Singh's Khamba Thoibi Sheireng (Poem on Khamba Thoibi, 1940) is a national epic of the Manipuris based on the story of Khamba and Thoibi of Moirang. The poet composes the whole epic in the Pena Saisak style of folk ballads sung by minstrels or bards popular in Manipur..
  17. Book: Datta, Amaresh . Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Devraj to Jyoti . . 1988 . 978-81-260-1194-0 . India . 1186 . en.
  18. Book: Das, Sisir Kumar . A History of Indian Literature: 1911-1956, struggle for freedom : triumph and tragedy . . 2005 . 978-81-7201-798-9 . 190 . en . His epic Singel Indu was published in 1938 which was followed by his magnum opus Khamba Thoibi Sheireng (1940), a poem of 39000 lines, considered to be the 'national' epic of the Manipuris, written in the Pena Saisak style of folk ballads..
  19. Book: T.C. Hodson . The Meitheis . 1908 . . London . 139 . en-GB.
  20. Book: T.C. Hodson . The Meitheis . 1908 . . London . 140 . en-GB.
  21. Book: T.C. Hodson . The Meitheis . 1908 . David Nutt. London . 141 . en-GB.
  22. Book: Raina, Vimala . Khamba Thoibi And Poems On Manipur . 1963-01-18 . Digital Library of India. Manipur Government Press; Manipur University Library; North Eastern States Libraries . India . ii . en.
  23. Book: Raina, Vimala . Khamba Thoibi And Poems On Manipur . 1963-01-18 . Digital Library of India. Manipur Government Press; Manipur University Library; North Eastern States Libraries . India . iii . en.
  24. Book: Raina, Vimala . Khamba Thoibi And Poems On Manipur . 1963-01-18 . Digital Library of India. Manipur Government Press; Manipur University Library; North Eastern States Libraries . India . iii . en.

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