Bishnupriya Manipuri Online

[Note: The piece written by Sharon Lowen has serious inbuilt errors. A proper response would be given. Soon!] Dated: Oct 9, 2018 SHARON LOWEN The origins of Bishnupriya Manipuris cover quite a gamut of theories. Among the greatest joys of my life has been the opportunity to access the depth and diversity of a small number of of the cultures of northeast India. Traveling across Assam from Gauhati to Tezpur visiting Sattriya, theatre and dance centres in the 1970’s as well as studying pre and post Vaisnavite dance traditions of Manipur with legendary gurus in Manipur has fed the flame of an interest dating back 50 years ago to college days in the USA. With this background, it was a very special pleasure to see two fine Manipuri performances recently, one by Urmimala Das at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi and the other in Mumbai, the 2nd Guru Padmashri Th. Babu Singh National Dance Festival held in Mumbai. Urmimala Das hails from Assam and was trained by Guru