A taste of India’s Himalayan north-east in Jamaica

The vibrancy and diversity of India is in her DNA – from colours, cuisine, apparel, culture, and, of course, the people – there are 1.4 billion reasons to fall in love with that country.

Jamaica, for the first time, got an insight into India’s north-east – the state of Manipur (literally translated as land of gems), bordering Myanmar to its east – through some exhilarating dance and martial arts performances.

The transition from the subtle movements of the dance to the fast-paced action of the martial arts performances kept the audience captivated. It was a taste of India that was unique and mesmerising.

“This showcase highlights the rich diversity of India,” remarked Rungsung Masakui, high commissioner of India to Jamaica. “Through this artform from the north-east of India, people would appreciate the varied cultural influences that the country has to offer.”

The troupe, led by Sobhamani Singh Mayanglambam, comprised Sobhachandra Singh Mayanglambam, Kshetrimayum Bisanta, Nobin Singh Naorem, Dharamaraj Singh Yengkhom, Bidya Devi Ningthoujam, Landhoni Devi Mutum, and Denita Devi Koijam.

The group, through their vibrant costumes, brought the freshness of the Himalayan air. The performances went from the trough of subtleness and culminated with the crest of drumbeats and martial arts.

OBEISANCE

The performance began with the customary obeisance to the Sun God in surya puja (surya - sun; puja - prayer). To the master of dawn, day, and night. The fathers of Kashyap clan glowing like a Red Rhododendron flower, which symbolises emancipating all sins and asking for blessings from Hinduism’s holy trinity – Brahma, the creator; Vishnu the preserver; and Shiva (or Maheswara) the destroyer – with the prayer: “Unto thee we surrender ourselves oh Brahma, the maker of dawn; oh Vishnu, the giver of heat and light; oh Maheshwara the protector of night. We offer thee this dance to bless us poor sinners and deliver us from all evils.”

The performance then transitioned to the dance recital called Laiching Jagoi (dance of summoning the deities). Through this dance, the maibis (female priestesses) invoke the deities and call upon them to bless the entire community. This dance also celebrates the ushering in of the rains.

Dhol Cholom (drum dance – dhol is a double-sided barrel drum) – is one of the state’s most prolific dances. It is performed during the festival of colour that ushers in spring – Holi. This dance is a confluence of devotion with music, which is seen in the subtle movements of the dance. The modulation varies as the performance goes on. It starts softly but ends in a thundering roar at the climax.

MARTIAL ARTS

The performances then moved to a display of swordsmanship, also enacted as a dance form. The Thang Chungoi ( Thang – sword; Chungoi – shield) is a duel. The martial artists wield the sword and the shield with agility and precision to thwart all attempts of attack.

In the Thang Leiteng Haiba, a solo swordsman moves with a sword and a shield, exhibiting the skill sets of handing the weapons and the grace of dance movements. It is performed by trained and skilled swordsmen. The choreography combines martial arts steps with complete mastery of the weapon

The performance moved to Yet-Thang Oi-Thang Yannaba (two swordsman, each with swords engage in a duel). It is again a highly skilled dance and involves precise movements. Swordsmen displayed their prowess of offensive and defending moves, which were seamless. It is said that the swordsmen are so precise and well trained that they can slice off small objects hurled at them. Thabi Kakpa (or cucumber cutting) showcased the precision, trust, and skills of the swordsman wherein the blindfolded sworsdman slices a cucumber placed on the belly of another artiste lying down. The swordsmen are trained to fight even when blinded or blindfolded, effectively defending themselves from possible attacks.

DRUMBEATS

The performances then went to a crescendo with Pung Cholom, which involved dancing and playing a drum at the same time. The hand-beaten drum is known as pung and was introduced between 154 and 264AD. This dance, performed only by men, blends the beating of the drum with acrobatic movements without breaking the rhythm or flow of music. The dance performance began on a low note and culminated in a high-pitch climax. This dance form has elements of traditional Manipuri martial arts like thang ta (art of sword and spear) and sarit sarak (unarmed combat).

The culmination of the performance was dance drama, which is enacted on the full moon night in the Hindu calender month of Chaitra (which falls in March- April). The dance drama depicts the visit of Lord Krishna (a reincarnation of Vishnu) to see his consort, Radha, and her friends who are called Gopis. Krishna plays the flute and the girls respond to his call as they dance together. They also play with colours as they celebrate the festival of Holi.

The performances highlighted a cultural phenomenon of India which may not be as widely known as other popular culture but is deep-rooted in the country’s fabric and resonates the diversity of the largest democracy and one of mankind’s oldest civilizations.

Someone remarked “But they don’t look Indian!” We beg to ask, how do Indians look?” That’s for another time. For now, let’s bask in the breath of fresh air from this state nestled in the Himalayas.

Background information courtesy High Commission of India in Jamaica. amitabh.sharma@gleanerjm.com | Twitter: @amitabhs