Khamba Thoibi Jagoi

This article is about a traditional Meitei classical dance. For the Classical Meitei language epic poem, see Khamba Thoibi Sheireng. For the general topic, see Khamba and Thoibi.
"Khamba Thoibi ballet" redirects here. Not to be confused with Khamba Thoibi ballad.
Khamba Thoibi Jagoi
(Khamba Thoibi classical dance)
Male and female dancers, re-enacting the classical performances of Khuman Khamba and Moirang Thoibi
Native nameMeitei: ꯈꯝꯕ ꯊꯣꯢꯕꯤ ꯖꯒꯣꯢ
EtymologyKhamba Thoibi dance or Khamba Thoibi ballet
Genrejagoi, classical dance,[1] ritual dance,[1] theatre dance (histrionic)[1] ballet[2][3][4]
InventorKhuman Khamba and Moirang Thoibi
OriginAncient Moirang
Meetei Mayek
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Khamba Thoibi Jagoi (Meitei: ꯈꯝꯕ ꯊꯣꯢꯕꯤ ꯖꯒꯣꯢ, lit. 'Khamba Thoibi dance'), also known as Khamba Thoibi classical dance or Khamba Thoibi ballet,[2][3][4] is a traditional Meitei ritualistic and theatrical classical dance form,[1] which is usually enacted as a part and parcel of the Lai Haraoba performances,[4] dedicated to God Thangching (Old Manipuri for 'Thangjing'), the national deity of Ancient Moirang realm.[5][6][7] Notably, it is one of the cultural elements, giving inspirations to the development of the Manipuri Raas Leela classical dance drama form.[8]

The dance form is believed to be first performed by Khuman Khamba and Moirang Thoibi, in the premise of the deity.[5][6][7]

Women performing the dance form

Another remarkable achievement of Meitei cultural heritage, directly related to the Khamba Thoibi dance, is Khamba Thoibi Sheireng (Meitei for 'Epic poem about Khamba and Thoibi'), the third longest Indian epic poem, next to the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, which is a classical Meitei language epic poem,[9][10][11] having 39,000 lines, recognised and honoured to be the national epic of the Manipuris, originated from the traditional ballads, popularly sung by minstrels or bards, by playing Pena (musical instrument).[12][13][14]

  1. ^ a b c d —Pathway Volume 41. Vol. 41. University of Michigan; Marg Foundation (Mumbai, India), Modern Architectural Research Group, Modern Artists and Architects Research Group, National Centre for the Performing Arts (India). 1988. pp. XV. First and foremost are the surviving ritual dances which have been absorbed into the repertoire. The Lai-haraoba and the Khamba Thoibi may be counted amongst these. Their historical and mythical theme makes them as classical as any of the later Vaishnavite dances.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
    —Doshi, Saryu (1989). Dances of Manipur: The Classical Tradition. University of Michigan. Marg Publications. pp. XIX. ISBN 978-81-85026-09-1. First and foremost are the surviving ritual dances which have been absorbed into the repertoire. The Lai-haraoba and the Khamba Thoibi may be counted amongst these. Their historical and mythical theme makes them as classical as any of the later Vaishnavite dances. They have an element of abhinaya (histrionic representation)...
    —DM Silveira's India Book. University of Michigan. Classic Publishers. 1994. p. 230. ISBN 978-81-900218-2-1. ...Lai Haraoba is the ritual folk-cum-classical dance of Manipur and tells the story of creation according to the Manipuris. Khamba Thoibi is a popular Manipuri dance which tells the story of princess Thoibi and poor boy Khamba...{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
    —Mãrg. Vol. 41. Pennsylvania State University; National Centre for the Performing Arts (India). p. 109. First and foremost are the surviving ritual dances which have been absorbed into the repertoire. The Lai-haraoba and the Khamba Thoibi may be counted amongst these. Their historical and mythical theme makes them as classical as any of the later Vaishnavite dances. They have an element of abhinaya histrionic representation)...{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
    —Khuraijam, Bobo (2011-03-13). "Three Cheers – KanglaOnline". Retrieved 2023-11-13. ... Would it not be like asking for a Hip-Hop dance from a classical Khamba-Thoibi jagoi performance if we expect street aggression from our teachers? ...
  2. ^ a b Banerji, Projesh (1983). Indian Ballet Dancing. India. p. 74. ISBN 978-0-391-02716-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  3. ^ a b Raina, Vimala (1963-01-18). Khamba Thoibi And Poems On Manipur. Manipur Government Press; Manipur University Library; North Eastern States Libraries. India: Digital Library of India; Internet Archive. pp. ii.
  4. ^ a b c Banerji, Projesh (1983). Indian Ballet Dancing. India. p. 77. ISBN 978-0-391-02716-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  5. ^ a b "khamba Thoibi Folk Dance of Manipur". www.indianfolkdances.com. Retrieved 2021-02-07.
  6. ^ a b "Everything Experiential | Khamba Thoibi Dance". Everything Experiential. Retrieved 2021-02-07.
  7. ^ a b "Khamba Thaibi Dance". Indian Classical Folk & Tribal Dance. 2012-03-19. Retrieved 2021-02-07.
  8. ^ Dances Of India. Har-Anand Publications Pvt. Limited. 2010. p. 19. ISBN 978-81-241-1337-0. ...The Rasa Lila dances of Shiva and Parvati, Radha and Krishna, and the local deities Khamba and Thoibi form the foundation of the Manipuri dance...
  9. ^ KanglaOnline (2011-04-04). "The great Meitei Reconciliation Process: Revisiting the classical folklore on "Emoinu Chakhong Ngahongbi" by Late Shri Ningomabam Angouton Meetei – KanglaOnline". Retrieved 2023-11-12. ... The folklore of Emoinu Celebration from the story "Washak Ngakpa" meaning Keeping the Promise, written by Late Shri Ningombam Angouton Meetei and the classical love story "Khamba -Thoibi" are classical examples of successful reconciliation process of the old Meitei factions...
  10. ^ Delhi, All India Radio (AIR), New (1968-03-17). "Some Classics of Manipur". AKASHVANI: Vol. XXXIII, No.12 ( 17 MARCH, 1968 ). India: All India Radio (AIR), New Delhi. pp. 7, 8.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ Bond, Ruskin (2000-10-14). "The Story of Khamba and Thoibi". The Penguin Book of Classical Indian Love Stories and Lyrics. Penguin UK. pp. 3, 4. ISBN 978-93-5118-814-8.
  12. ^ George, K. M. (1992). Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Surveys and poems. India: Sahitya Akademi. p. 258. ISBN 978-81-7201-324-0. H. Anganghal Singh's Khamba Thoibi Sheireng (Poem on Khamba Thoibi, 1940) is a national epic of the Manipuris based on the story of Khamba and Thoibi of Moirang. The poet composes the whole epic in the Pena Saisak style of folk ballads sung by minstrels or bards popular in Manipur.
  13. ^ Datta, Amaresh (1988). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Devraj to Jyoti. India: Sahitya Akademi. p. 1186. ISBN 978-81-260-1194-0.
  14. ^ Das, Sisir Kumar (2005). A History of Indian Literature: 1911-1956, struggle for freedom : triumph and tragedy. Sahitya Akademi. p. 190. ISBN 978-81-7201-798-9. His epic Singel Indu was published in 1938 which was followed by his magnum opus Khamba Thoibi Sheireng (1940), a poem of 39000 lines, considered to be the 'national' epic of the Manipuris, written in the Pena Saisak style of folk ballads.