Maibi Jagoi

Maibi Jagoi (Meitei: ꯃꯥꯢꯕꯤ ꯖꯒꯣꯢ; literally, "Priestess' dance"[1]) is a traditional dance form performed by the maibis (priestesses) during the religious festival of Lai Haraoba.[2][3] The dance form is enacted in various ways depending on the variation of the regions.[4] The Maibi Jagoi dance form performed by the female priestesses of the Leihou tribe is one of the most remarkable one.[5] Due to its unique way of performance and costume,[1] the dance form is famous all over the Indian subcontinent and abroad.[6]

Performances

The maibis (priestesses) also enact "Laihou Jagoi" ("Dance of invitation"[7]), along with the performance of "pena", a traditional music instrument.[7][8]

Outside India

Maibi Jagoi is performed by the Meitei diaspora community in Australia,[9][10] Bangladesh,[11][12] among others.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Sen, Sipra (January 1992). Tribes and Castes of Manipur: Description and Select Bibliography. Mittal Publications. ISBN 9788170993100.
  2. "NROER - File - Manipuri 19". nroer.gov.in. Archived from the original on 2021-02-14. Retrieved 2021-02-07.
  3. India Perspectives. Produced by PTI for the Ministry of External Affairs. 1994.
  4. Narayan, Shovana (2004). Folk Dance Traditions of India. Shubhi Publication. ISBN 9788187226932.
  5. Singh, Wahengbam Ibohal (1986). The History of Manipur: An early period. Manipur Commercial Company.
  6. Meitei, Sanjenbam Yaiphaba; Chaudhuri, Sarit K.; Arunkumar, M. C. (2020-11-25). The Cultural Heritage of Manipur. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-000-29637-2.
  7. 7.0 7.1 "Traditional Customs and Rituals of Northeast India: Arunachal Pradesh, meghalaya, Manipur, Assam". 2002.
  8. Parratt, Saroj Nalini (1997). The Pleasing of the Gods: Meitei Lai Haraoba. Vikas Publishing House. ISBN 9788125904168.
  9. Sarwal, Amit (2022-05-15). The Celestial Dancers: Manipuri Dance on Australian Stage. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-000-62550-9.
  10. Lightfoot, Louise (2017-05-11). Louise Lightfoot in Search of India: An Australian Dancer's Experience. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4438-9258-2.
  11. "Manipuri, The - Banglapedia". en.banglapedia.org. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
  12. "The Manipuri Ethnic Group in Bangladesh". Bangladesh.com. Retrieved 2025-05-21.

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