Manipuri Dance, a traditional dance form of
Manipur, was developed in the 17th century by the erstwhile ruler King Bhagya Chandra (1763-1798). The beautiful costume of this dance was designed by the King himself. It is believed that the costume was made based on a dream that the ruler had.
The costumes used in the Manipuri dance are very colorful and richly decorated. The costume worn by the female dancers, playing the characters in the scenes depicting the love of Radha and Lord Krishna, is called ‘potlei’. The dancer playing Radha dresses in green, while other dancers wear red colored costume. The male dancer enacting Lord Krishna wears a saffron dress.
The female dancer wears a ‘kumin’ (skirt), which features beautiful designs created with mirrors and gold embroidery. This skirt is layered with a transparent silk fabric called ‘pasuan’. ‘Khangoi’, a rectangular belt is worn over this fabric. The ‘choli’ (blouse) features gold and silk embroidery. The face of the dancer is covered with a transparent veil called ‘odhni’. There is a ‘koknaam’ (gauze) on the top of the head. A golden ring called ‘leitreng’ is worn over the head. A ‘koktombi’ (cap) adorns the head along with a decorative structure called ‘chura,’ which is made from peacock feathers. The feet are ornamented with ‘ghungur’.
