Photographer Md.Arifuzzaman is the Edge of Humanity Magazine contributor of this photo essay. From the project ‘The Story Of Manipuri Dance‘. To see Md’s body of work, click on any image.
The history says, the indigenous people of the Manipur valley were the dance-experts revered as Gandharvas in the Hindu epics ( Ramayan and Mahabharat) suggesting a dance tradition has existed in Manipur since antiquity. 
With evidence of Vishnu temples in the medieval era, the dance arts have been passed down verbally from generation to generation. Interesting fact is, the Manipuri dance got a second life through the efforts of the Noble Laureate. In 1919, he was impressed after seeing a dance composition of Goshtha Lila in Sylhet, eastern part of Bangladesh.
Bangladeshi Meitei and Bishnupriya Manipuri Community has been continued to observe every year as a grand religious festival. Every Year Celebrates ‘Raas Leela’ in Moulvibazar district of Bangladesh. A celebration of the divine love of Radha and Krishna, ‘Raas Leela’ is a colorful indigenous festival of Bangladesh. Manipuri’s have been celebrating this festival full day to full night on the ‘Purnima Tithi’ (full moon) in November every year. 
The celebration included “Rakhal Nritya” (dance of Sri Krishna and the cowherds), “Kirtan”, “Natpala” and “Raas Leela” (dance of Sri Krishna, Radha and the milk maids). ‘Raas Mela’ (fair) was also part of the festival. The range of products included Manipuri handicrafts, household items, toys and much more. Thousands of people, irrespective of caste and religion, from different areas of the country attend the festival.
Raas Leela( Radha’s dance) usually commence in the midnight and finish before the dawn. The Rakhal dance is celebrated. The Manipuri dance is a team performance, with its own unique costumes, aesthetics, conventions and repertoire.[12] The Manipuri dance drama is, for most part, marked by a performance that is graceful, fluid, sinuous with greater emphasis on hand and upper body gestures. As a Photographer when I saw their dance I was speechless and felt it has spirituality in the rhythm of the dance.
All images and text © Md.Arifuzzaman
See also:
By Md.Arifuzzaman
Md.Arifuzzaman ’s Previous Contributions To Edge Of Humanity Magazine
The Sound Of The Sangu River | Bangladesh
Edge of Humanity Magazine is an independent nondiscriminatory platform that has no religious, political, financial, or social affiliations.
We are committed to publishing the human condition, the raw diverse global entanglement, with total impartiality.
Documentary Photography * Fine Art Photography * Street Photography * Portrait Photography * Landscape Photography * Night Photography * Conceptual Photography * Travel Photography * Candid Photography Underwater Photography * Architectural Photography Urban Photography * Art * Digital Art
Press Release For Artists, Photographers, Poets & Writers On Edge of Humanity Magazine
Support This Small Independent Magazine
Please
DONATE
Follow Edge of Humanity Magazine
Email Subscriptions
WordPress Bloggers
Follow Edge of Humanity Magazine on WordPress.com
Not on WordPress?
Don’t Forget to add
to your reader or bookmarks
Thank you!
Manipuri Dance has its origins in the North-eastern states of India. It echoes the rhythm of life amidst its grace and charm. Manipuri as a dance form is old but is the youngest among the Indian classical dances. The current form of this dance is much more free and limited only to the literary word and the rigidity of the Tala.
https://www.indianetzone.com/1/manipuri.htm
Lovely issue with the children and travel and ideas. Thanks.