     Differentjagois (Meitei dances) of various genres of bothMeitei Hindus as well astraditional Meitei religion followers (Sanamahists) | |
| Native name |
|
|---|---|
| Instrument | Pena (musical instrument) |
| Origin | Kangleipak (Meitei for 'Manipur') |
Jagoi (Meitei:ꯖꯒꯣꯏ;Old Manipuri:ꯆꯠꯀꯣꯏ,romanized: Chatkoi) refers tothe arts ofdance inMeitei culture.
In the performances oftraditional Meitei dances, dancers are strictly forbidden not to have any forms of eye contact with the audiences. If it is not followed properly, then it is considered as asacrilege.[1]
"Chukpharon Jagoi" is aSanamahist ritual dance form performed by themaibis (priestesses) to please the lords of the four directions, Thangjing, Marjing, Wangbren, and Koubru, in the religious festival of Lai Haraoba.[2] During the performance, the maibi takes the two ekouphus (pots) from the laipubas, holding the Lainingthou ekouphu in the right hand and the Lairembi ekouphu in the left hand.[2] The dance performance portrays the dance of goddess Nongthang Leima, who saves theuniverse from destruction.[3]
Laiching Jagoi (Meitei:ꯂꯥꯢꯆꯤꯡ ꯖꯒꯣꯢ) (literally, 'Dance of summoning the deity'[4]) is a dance form performed by themaibis (priestesses) with the langthrei (a special leaf ofBlumea balsamifera) held between their fingers.[4][5] This sequence involves a variety of expressive movements where thespirit of thedeity is invited to enter each maibi's body.[4] It is an invocatory dance where the maibis stand with their hands in a pose symbolizing women's union.[6] In this dance form, the maibis, after invoking the deities fromwater, perform leitai nongdai jagoi.[7] This dance form is performed in front of theshrine of the deities.[8]
Laihou Jagoi (Meitei:ꯂꯥꯢꯍꯧ ꯖꯒꯣꯢ) (literally,'dance of invitation'[9] or"opening dance"[10]) is a dance form performed by themaibis (priestesses) to lead a way to apond orriver,[10] in the religious festival ofLai Haraoba.[11][10]
During the performance of the dance, the tune of the pena, a traditional musical instrument, is also shrimmed up.[9]
With the maibis, thesword bearing youths in two rows, themaidens with thebrassvessels, the Lai bearers, the isaiphu bearers, the chong (umbrella) bearers accompany the pibas (men) holding the two pots.[11][9]
Leisem Jagoi (Meitei:ꯂꯩꯁꯦꯝ ꯖꯒꯣꯢ) (literally, 'Dance of creation of the earth'[12]) is a dance form enacted by imitating the movements of ninegods and seven goddesses creating the earth, followed by Laibou Jagoi, depicting the creation of human body and various activities of man, likeweaving of clothes.[13][14]The sequence of the dance is performed by the Ningol Macha (girls).[15]The six original forms of the dance are leishem, leitai, nongdai, leipekpa, leihouba and leipiba.[16]It is one of the early dance forms ofAncient Manipur contributing to the richManipur's classical wealth of culture.[17][tone]
Panthoibi Jagoi (Meitei:ꯄꯥꯟꯊꯣꯢꯕꯤ ꯖꯒꯣꯢ) (literally, 'Panthoibi's dance' or 'Dance dedicated to the Divine Mother'[18]) is a duet dance form, portraying the romanticlove affairs betweenNongpok Ningthou andPanthoibi.[19][20] There are 14 hand gestures with bodily movements.[21] It is performed in the religious festival of Lai Haraoba, depicting the weaving process.[22] In the dance form, Marjing has been conflated with Nongpok Ningthou.[23] Nowadays, the dance form is replaced by theKhamba Thoibi Jagoi.[19]
The Manipuri classical dance, also known to as the Manipuri Raas Leela dance (Meitei:Jagoi Raas/Raas Jagoi[24][25][26]), is one of the eight majorIndian classical dance forms, originating from the state ofManipur.[27]
Thougal Jagoi (Meitei:ꯊꯧꯒꯜ ꯖꯒꯣꯢ) (literally, 'Dance of dedication'[28]) or"Jagoi Ashangbi"[29] (Meitei:ꯖꯒꯣꯢ ꯑꯁꯥꯡꯕꯤ) is a Meitei traditionaldance form, performed by men and women, along with maibis (priestesses) to invoke the deities.[30] It is performed in the religious festival of Lai Haraoba.[31] Theperformance lasts for half anhour, after which the "Hoi Lauba" ceremony is enacted.[28]