Manipuri Rasa UthSav in Bangladesh

In Bangladesh the government is patronizing the cultural heritage of Manipur with great regard. There is a seperate depertment of Manipuri dance in the Bulbul Academy of Dhaka. Besides, in almost every other cultural institutions, Manipuri Dance teaching plays a major part. Kamalganj Thana in Mulvibazar district is highly manipuri populated area. A yearly festival is observed duriing the mounth of November-December in ShivBazar JuraMandap , Madhabpur, where about three hundred young Manipuri girls wearing the tradition rasa dress Bar , dances all the night. But as this festival is arranged in religious purpose, three teams in each of three temples situated side by side in an equal manner. People from home and abroad flock to enjoy this festival in the Rasa Purnima Tithi.

The Ras costumes and ornaments of Sri Radhika and the Gopies are colorful and handsome. The skirt the present day Ras dancers wear is modeled on the one the Maharaja Bhagya Chandra(1763-1798) saw in his dream

Ras Lila has merged into the Manipuri society to a great extent. It is said that when Krishna, Radha and the Gopies danced the Ras Leela, Shiva made sure that no one disturbed the beauty of the dancing. Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva also wished to see this dance, so to please her, he chose the beautiful area of manipur and re-enacted the Ras Leela. Maharaja Bhagyo Chandra Singha - King of Manipur introduced the "Manipuri Maha Rasaleela " in the Manipur valley during his reign. The Ras costumes and ornaments of Sri Radhika and the Gopies are colorful and handsome. The skirt the present day Ras dancers wear is modeled on the one the Maharaja Bhagya Chandra(1763-1798) saw in his dream.

Manipuri Rasa UthSav: BrindaDevi in two different pose. Krishna, Radha and the Gopies dances with him in the Ras Leela,

It ushered in a new era in the development of this style. The Ras lila, the epitome of Manipuri classical dance is inter-woven through the celestial and eternal love of Radha and Krishna as has beendescribed in the Hindu scriptures and reveals the sublime and transcendental love of Krishna and Radha and the Gopie 's devotion to the Lord. It is generally performed in an enclosure in front of the temple throughout the night and watched with a deep sense of devotion. Ras performances are

Left: Rehearsal is very much important in order perform the Dance properly. Right: A little Boy and a little Girl plays the rulke of Krishna and Sri Radhika in the Rasa Leela.

seasonal and varied and performed at the temple of Shree Shree Govindajee in Imphal, ZuraMandhop at Moulvibazar , Bangladesh , on the nights of Basanta Purnima, Sarada Purnima and Kartik Purnima and at some other local temples in Some Bishnupriya Manipuri inhabited areas in Bangladesh , Tripura and Assam.

Love of art and beauty is inherent in the Manipuri peopleand it is difficult to find a Bishnupriya Manipuri or Meithei Manipuri girl who cannot sing or dance