Manipuri dance enthrals Mandalay National Theatre
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 26 2015 : Manipuri dance contingent enthralled a large crowd at the National Theatre of Mandalay on December 24 .

An India Cultural Evening was organised under the aegis of Indian Consulate office Mandalay, Myanmar.

Dr Win Hlaing, Minister of Social welfare , U Kyaw San, Minister of Transport and Dr Nandakumar Consulate of India to Myanmar were on the dais.

Many diplomatic luminaries including the Chinese Consulate General were present in the evening.

The show was coordinated by RK Shivachandra President, Indo-Myanmar Fraternal Alliance from the Indian side.

The Manipuris in Mandalay scattered all around the Myanmar cultural capital thronged the National Theatre and made the evening worth a name.

The Manipuri dances were represented by renowned dance group of Manipur, Lianda Folk and Classical Academy and Manju Elangbam, a dance exponent, who brought laurels to Manipur on several occasions also performed certain dance forms on the stage.

Manipuri dance enthrals Mandalay National Theatre

The crowd who were mostly young filled the hall with a thunderous clap with each movement and performances of Dasa Avatar that featured different 10 incarnations of God including Lord Buddha.

Artistes from Balli also took part in the cultural evening and featured 'Ramayana Play' which is considered as the most spectacular show in Bali and rest of South East Asia.

The performance of Manipuris was meant more than a dance show as Mandalay and rest of Myanmar are looking up to act as a major key player in the Asian economic map rather than remaining a backwater in the last 50 years under Junta Military regime.

Myanmar and India that share a cultural heritage and embrace the same root of religion have many things to speak when it comes to a concept of working hand in hand.

"The Manipuri dance performance speaks volumes of close relationships between the two Nations.

Moreover the attire of Thougal Jagoi that is very much akin to the other South East Asian countries, and Mongoloid feature of the Manipuris posed a riddle about what we can achieve if all these people clique together at a time", conveyed a press release issued by Indo-Myanmar Fraternal Alliance.

Apart from the Cultural Evening of India, the dance troupe also staged certain performances at different Manipuri localities in Mandalay.

The most eventful and heart rendering moment was the performance at Gundicha Mandav of Bamon Khunjao of Mandalay.

Bhramchari Mayum Rupabati Devi, a Manipuri lecturer in Mandalay University said, "This is the first ever Rasa Dance displayed in this particular Mandap" .

'Chali Saaba' the age old traditional dance performed in every Mandap in the bygone days in Manipur was recollected and the artistes of Manipur and Manipuris of Mandalay performed the dance form (Chali ) together in unison.

The dance troupe also participated in 78th International Vyasa Puja Celebration of His Holiness Bhaktisvarupa Damodar Swamy Srila Sripada and 6th anniversary of Srimad Bhagavat Gita Jayante Mahotsava that was held at Ambika temple.

Devotees from all over the globe participated in the anniversary with deep reverence.

It may be recalled that a big Manipur contingent comprising of 56 members led by RK Shivachandra, president Indo-Myanmar Fraternal Alliance left Imphal ISKCON complex on December 14 last.