Khamba Thoibi Jagoi
Khamba Thoibi Jagoi (Meitei: ꯈꯝꯕ ꯊꯣꯢꯕꯤ ꯖꯒꯣꯢ, lit. 'Khamba Thoibi dance'), also known as Khamba Thoibi classical dance or Khamba Thoibi ballet, is a traditional Meitei ritualistic and theatrical classical dance form, which is usually enacted as a part and parcel of the Lai Haraoba performances, dedicated to God Thangching (Old Manipuri for 'Thangjing'), the national deity of Ancient Moirang realm. Notably, it is one of the cultural elements, giving inspirations to the development of the Manipuri Raas Leela classical dance drama form.
Male and female dancers, re-enacting the classical performances of Khuman Khamba and Moirang Thoibi | |
| Native name | Meitei: ꯈꯝꯕ ꯊꯣꯢꯕꯤ ꯖꯒꯣꯢ |
|---|---|
| Etymology | Khamba Thoibi dance or Khamba Thoibi ballet |
| Genre | jagoi, classical dance, ritual dance, theatre dance (histrionic) ballet |
| Inventor | Khuman Khamba and Moirang Thoibi |
| Origin | Ancient Moirang |
The dance form is believed to be first performed by Khuman Khamba and Moirang Thoibi, in the premise of the deity.
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, 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).