Source: The Imphal Free Press
Imphal, September 08:
A four day exhibition cum festival on indigenous musical instruments of Manipur was opened today at the JN Manipur Dance Academy auditorium by P Achouba Singh, director, arts and culture, Manipur.
The festival was organized by the Rhythms of Manipur, a pioneering orchestral group, under the sponsorship of the department of culture, New Delhi, and features the musical instruments of seven communities, including the Kabui, Maring, Tangkhul, Hinar, Kom, Maram and Meitei.
On its opening day, cultural representatives of The seven communities demonstrated first hand the musical instruments on display, along with accompanying dance and song.
More details on the ethnic instruments and their significance will be coming up as the festival progresses, according to Rhythms of Manipur.
The array of musical instruments on exhibition at the entrance of the academy include pena, sraengdhar/sananta/ sirangdar, sakhi, shinman, rosem/ gosem, bamboo and gourd, telescopic bugle, kechii/ anking, langte, lhinltei, pheiphit, dahapi, selkhai and olobii kada etc.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief guest P Achou Singh said the indigenous musical instruments should not be regarded as things of the past or merely part of history, but they should be made aware to everybody's minds and souls to give a complete look at what has passed down through the generations.
Sangeet Bhusan Birendra Kumar Singh, who presided over the occasion, said this festival not only marks the rediscovery of ethnic and discarded musical instruments of yore but has given the unique opportunity for better awareness of our wonderful and unique musical cultural heritage.
Apart from nostalgia and the historical perspective, the platform offered by the festival can also serve for seeking a common unity through music, he said.
He also spoke at length on the long tradition of music and its ethnic inception.