Rich multi-faceted Manipuri Culture presented through Manipuri Dance form at ICCR

Partha Roy, Kolkata: A tapestry of rich , vibrant, colourful multi-faceted Manipuri Culture was presented through Manipuri Dance form under title ” Nongi Ithin ” by Poushali Chatterjee and her group under Horizons series program at ICCR Kolkata on 26th April 2024 .

Nongi Ithin, a dance production, is an exploration of rhythms and rain – both found in abundance in the valley of Manipur. This is a meandering story of water and rhythm cycles – explored and danced with movements from Jagoi Raaslila, Nata Sankirtana, Thang Ta, and other ritualistic, social and harvest dances. Nongi Ithin gives glimpses of stories where ancient divinities brought rain, and some even danced with it! From children’s gleeful play to the worship of the gods, from gathering harvest to breaking embankments, come with us to feel the pulse, the beats of rhythm in rain. It showcases the different rhythms associated in the dances performed in Manipur related to the rains. It includes the dance of the goddess of thunder, a harvest dance, Krishna and Radha rejoicing in the showers, Lord Krishna lifting Govardhan to shield the world from torrential rains and finally the destruction that is brought by rains when embankments break and flood occurs.

Poushali Chatterjee & Group presented compositions : ” Mangalacharan ” , ” Vrindavan Varnan” , ” Hari Sayal Tara (Dasavatar) ” , ” Pung Vadan” . Each composition is in some way related to Sri Krishna and /or Radha . People who created & presented Nongi Ithin & others :
Concept & Script: Poushali Chatterjee and Debanjali Biswas
Choreography: Poushali Chatterjee & senior artistes of Nandanik Movement Arts
Music by R K Upendro, Vocals T. Lansana Chanu & O. Kalyan Singh, Sarod: A Shashikumar Sharma, Violin: T Sandip, Flute: T. Nanao, Pena: H. Tomba, Narration: Poushali Chatterjee, Music Editing: Debashish Ghosh, Music recorded at: Akhong Ayei Studio, Light Design: Gopal Ghosh, Sets: Haru Sarkar
Performers: Poushali Chatterjee, Malabi Choudhury, Priyanka Talukdar, Sriparna Sarkar, Moumita Hazra, Tanmana Roy, Suvra Bhowmick, Ankita Ghorai, Dr Tania Chakraborty, Dalia Karmakar, Pallabi Chakraborty, Rishika Pal, Riya Kar, Ratna Majumdar, Aditi Dhali, Rimi Das, Jayita Mandal, Tithi Mandal, Rina Naiya and Urvi Sengupta Dutta

The program was anchored by acclaimed Kathak dancer Ms. Tanni Chowdhury . Smt. Poushali Chatterjee and her team from Nandanik Movement Arts has completed an ICCR sponsored tour of Bhutan on the occasion of 75th Indian Republic Day in January 2024