Manipur, the land of jewels, gateway to east India, bordered on the north, west and south by the hill tracts of Nagaland, Assam and Mizoram is identified by some historians as the setting for episodes of the Mahabharata epic. The land of misty mornings, mountains and plains that lies just next to Burma was formed, according to legend, when Lord Shiva touched the point of his trident to the earth and created a lake which formed the background for his dance with his consort, Panthoibi. Legend also has it that Manipur was the land where Arjuna, the unerring marksman and the most courageous of the five Pandava brothers in the epic, fell in love with Chitrangada, the daughter of a local king and married her. Manipur's association with dance goes back to the gandharvas and the apsaras (celestial beings) as well as Arjuna, Balarama and Narada (epic heroes).The land is also the birthplace of many folk and community dances as well as the youngest but the most distinctive form of classical dance in the country - the Ras Lila. The origin of the Rasa dances were rooted in a dream of Rajasthani Bhagya Chandra Maharaj (1763-1798) where he saw Lord Krishna in dance and merriment with his love, Radha, and the other gopikas (milkmaids). Even today the raiment worn in the Ras Lila, the stiff under skirt and the short upper one reaching up to the knees, are attributed to King Bhagya Chandra Maharaja's dream.

The Ras Lila dances though in appearance a folk community dance form, reveal highly stylized and honed characteristics. The basic theme of the Ras Lila is the love of Radha and Lord Krishna and their differences and tiffs and making-up and the final joyous celebration of eternal togetherness. They are portrayed as the ideal couple, the ideal lovers. Though the theme itself and the strong vein of classicism evident in the Ras Lila seem to suggest an earlier origin, it was really in the 18th century that the Ras Lila flowered and blossomed into a fine classical dance form. What today goes by the term 'classical Manipuri dance' is based on a foundation laid by King Chandra Kirti (1850-56).

The five Rasas of the finely sculptured Manipuri Rasa tradition each have a specific occasion and season at which to be performed. The six main phases of the dance form are generally composed of an initial stage where Lord Krishna appears and translates his emotions into natya (dance) and abhinaya (expression). Radhya follows and they dance in unison. This forms the Ras Lila proper and is followed by bhangi or argument during which one or the other piqued lover refuses to participate in the general merriment. The lover then proceeds to appease the dejected one and persuades him or her to forgive and join in the dancing again. Milan or reunion of the lovers is then celebrated along with the gopis and gopikas. The final stage is one of prayer where both Radha and the gopis pledge never-ending devotion and trust.In each of the Rasas, however, the sequence of the stages may differ. Maha Rasa, the most elaborate of the Rasas is performed during kartika (November) during the full moon. It depicts the parting of the lovers. Radha threatens suicide in a desperate attempt to impress upon Krishna the depth and intensity of her love. Krishna returns.

Basant Rasa is performed in spring (March-April). The focus in this Rasa is a serious quarrel between Radha and Krishna when he reneges an agreement with his love. a painful separation follows. Latter, a contrite Krishna returns to plead with her. In the Kunj Rasa, joy at togetherness even in the seemingly trivial occupations of daily life is the main theme. Nitya Rasa can be performed on any day of the year. Diva Rasa has to be performed only during the day. The Ashta Gopi/Ashta Shyam Rasa is performed during spring and depicts eight gopis in joyous celebration with eight forms of Lord Krishna. In the Natha Rasa eight gopis sport with Krishna in a magnificent show of colour, mime and facial expression. The poetry of the Rasa dancers is based on the Bhagavat Purana and the verses of poet Jayadeva in the Gita Govinda written in the 12th century. Occasionally women singers take over the singing of the verses allowing the dancers to concentrate purely on the movements and the mime. During the most popular festival of Lai Haroba, the rituals enact the formation of cosmos, the creation and destruction, very symbolically, by placing leaves (the male and the female principle) in the lake at the culmination of a ritual procession. The Jatras (a form of ballet) are usually held during the three major seasons in the annual cycle. The Jhula jatra is performed in autumn and during the monsoon; the Dhol Jatra in winter and the Rath jatra in spring. Men and women sing and dance hand in hand. Among the other popular dances of Manipur is the Pung Cholam where performers dance with the pung or mridanga (king of drum) to amazingly agile and synchronized movements. There is also the Thabal Chongba performed in moonlight in March. But the Manipuri Rasa tradition of classical dance remains the most distinctive and alluring among the classical Indian dance forms in its raiments, its expressions, its music and its very character.
I just saw the picture of the wedding dress from Manipur called Poloi. I have to say it's really amazing. I mean how can someone walk in that? or even sit down? I searched around and found out that they also wear it when they play out Ras Leela. It also said that the dress is sewn on the body. I still can't see how it can be comfortable at all.

MY STATE. MANIPUR

Manipur is situated in the eastern-most part of India situated in between 24°49′01″N and 93°57′00″E and is bounded by Myanmar to its east. After the independence of India, a democratic form of government was formed in the region with the Maharaja as the executive head and a legislature was established. Manipur became a Part “C” state from 26th January 1950 and it was in 1957 a territorial council of 32 members was set up. In 1963, a legislative assembly was established and Manipur finally achieved full statehood on January 21, 1972.Manipur is a thinly populated state and presently the state is composed of only 9 districts.

Manipur was rightly called “The jewel of India” by Jawaharlal Nehru .The state is mostly mountainous and the valleys are dotted with lakes and is a paradise for nature lovers. This state has many places of natural scenic beauty unknown to most of the people of India. There are many places of tourist interest in state. The capital of the state Imphal is a centre of culture and commercial activity. The other places of tourists’ interest are Bishnu temple at Bishnupur, Loktak Lake, the biggest fresh water lake of eastern India, the Orchid yard at Khongampat. Keibul Lamjao the only floating National Park in the world is also located here in the state. There is one university-Manipur University, Imphal and one agricultural university in Central Agricultural University; Imphal , in the state.

The people of Manipur are grouped into three main ethnic communities: the Meiteis, majority of the people those inhabiting the valley, and the other two main ethno-denominations are, namely Nagas and Kuki-Chins .Besides Marwaris, Bengalis, Nepalis and people of other Indian communities also live here in the state. Agriculture has been the main occupation of the people of Manipur. Paddy is the main crop while maize is also cultivated. Handloom has been the biggest industry of the state where almost 3 lakh of the total population are dependent on it. Manipuri handicrafts are world famous and a major portion of the handicraft products are exported The are almost 10,000 small scale industries in the state. The state has been the first ever to introduce Oak Tasar industry where almost 30 million Tasar cocoons are produced each year.

There have been many social conflicts in the recent past, resulting in tensions between the Meiteis (the valley people) and the so called Naga people residing in Manipur for ages. Manipur is also involved in a border dispute with Nagaland .Manipur is considered a sensitive border state where the foreigners entering Manipur must possess a Restricted Area Permit which can be obtained from the Foreigners’ Regional Registration Office in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata or certain other state government offices. Permits are valid for only 10 days, and visitors must travel only on tours arranged by any authorized travel agents, in groups of four only. Moreover, they have to come to Imphal only by air and will not be permitted to travel outside the capital city. Although amazing but it is true that the game polo originated in Manipur from a similar game called Sagol Kangjei and the British soldiers and planters took it back to England, modified the rules and made it popular around the world .

Manipur is one of the least developed states of India with lack of economic as well as educational infrastructure. Although the GDP is growing at a good rate but heavy industrialization is negligible here. The state is naturally very beautiful with so many varieties of endangered species of animals and birds living here. The state has a long way to go in the field of industrial as well as economic development to stand up face to face with other developed states of the nation.