Manipuri dance
Samkirtana is basically a male dance form in which the performers play instruments, sing and dance. This follows the lines of the Samkirtana as shown by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in Bengal. In Manipur it has a very rich dance element along with singing and playing instruments. It is an energetic and acrobatic dance. The main instrument is a wooden drum, the Pung, which looks like the clay Khol of Bengal. The sounds naturally vary. The dance with the Pung, called the Pung Cholom, is part of the Samkirtana in Manipur. The Cholom is a male dance form of Manipur. The name probably comes from the word Chalan, meaning way of movement. There is also the Kartal Cholom, where the movements are more grand and follow the sound and playing of the big cymbals, the Kartalas. The singing, called the ishei, follows the kirtana style of Bengal. Singers use a trembling tone which is typical of the Manipuri style of singing. The talas (rhythm patterns) used have an immense variety. There are 64 different talas for the Pung. These rhythmic patterns are also used in interesting combinations. The costumes are white, but the turbans vary with the instrument players. The Samkirtana is performed at all major occasions in the society, such as birth ceremonies, weddings, and funerals. It is even performed before the beginning of the Rasalila.