YUMLEMBAM GAMBHINI DEVI - AN EXCELLENT MANIPURI DANCER

 

  In  the blogchatter’s A2Z campaign, I will be presenting blogposts on ‘EXCEPTIONALLY TALENTED INDIAN ARTIST’ in the alphabetical order.  Today, Y-  YumLemBam Gambhini Devi  - Manipuri Dance. First few lines about the art form, then about the artist.

" Music gives color to the air of the moment. " - Karl Lagerfeld

Manipuri Dance or Manipuri Raas Leela is one the eight major Indian classical dance forms originating in the state of Manipur. The dance form is imbued with the devotional themes of Madhura Raas of Radha-Krishna and characterised by gentle eyes and soft peaceful body movements. The facial expressions are peaceful mostly expressing Bhakti Rasa or the emotion of devotion. 

The dance is a portrayal of the dance of divine love of Lord Krishna with Radha and the cowherd damsels of Vrindavan, famously known as the Raas Leela. This Manipuri dance drama is, for most part is entirely religious and is considered to be a purely spiritual experience.  The lyrics used in Manipuri are usually from the classical poetry of  Jaya deva, Vidyapati,  Chandidas, Govindadas and may be in Sanskrit, Maithili, Brij Bhasa or others.

The classical Manipuri Raas Leela dance genre got a second life through the efforts of the Noble Laureate Rabindranath Tagore. The musical accompaniment for Manipuri dance comes from a percussion instrument called the Pung, a singer , small kartals,  sembong, harmonium, and wind instrument such as a flute.

Yumlembam Gambhini Devi is an excellent Manipuri dancer and for her contribution to Manipuri dance and Music, The Government of India awarded her the fourth highest civilian honour of the Padma Shri  in 2005.

Her debut performance was when she was 7 years old and has performed on various stages in India and abroad since then. she worked for the Imphal  station of the  ALL INDIA RADIO as a Top Grade Artist, reportedly the first female artist from the state to get the top grade.

Yumlembam Gambhini Devi also founded a music training institute,  YGR, NATSANKIRTANA SHEIDAM SHANG where she trained many number of students in dance and music.  Her songs have been compiled in two albums and she has published a book under the name, Basak on Basak songs.

I'm  happy to write about YUMLEMBAM GAMBHINI DEVI on the INTERNATIONAL DANCE DAY TODAY.

(I'm participating in #BlogchatterA2Z and hyperlink to https://www.theblogchatter.co)