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traditional dance form Goura Leela staged in Imphal Imphal:
Goura Leela, a traditional performing art form was recently staged in Imphal.
The objective of this gala show, performed over four days, was to promote and
conserve the unique dance from going into the oblivion. Goura Leela, a traditional
performing art of Manipur is based on the events that took place in the life of
Gauranga Mahaprabhu, an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna and who lived in Nadia
region of West Bengal, singing the praises of God and propagating Bhakti Yoga
(devotion based worship). Today, many Hindus in Bengal and Manipur revere him
as a reincarnation of Lord Vishnu. And the entire Goura Leela is based on the
life and works of Gaurnaga Mahaprabhu. Organised under the aegis of International
Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), Manipur chapter, the programme also
aimed at infusing the ethos cultural understanding and love among the present
day youth. Many enthusiastic audiences from far-flung places came to witness the
performance, which in the recent past had lost popular patronage. "Children of
our society nowadays, the freedom and happiness was taken away by the present
atmosphere. So I feel in my mind immediately that ... now is the right time to
promote this Goura Leela, Sankirtan culture," said Ajit Das, President, International
Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), Manipur chapter, Imphal. One of traditional
performing arts of Manipur, Goura Leela is believed to have originated during
the reign of King Churachand during the 18th century. The play can be categorised
as an opera and is much influenced by Natya Sankritan (devotion through dance
and singing hymns). -July
12, 2009
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