Bishnupur Ras Leela Dance Pottery Manipuri East District

Bishnupur district (Imphal East and surrounding Thoubal area) in the Manipur Valley is the heartland of Meitei Vaishnavite culture — the Ras Leela dance-drama tradition of Manipur, based on Krishna-Radha mythology, is performed during festivals at historic mandaps (Govindaji temple in Imphal being the most sacred). Manipuri classical dance — one of India's eight classical dance forms, characterised by lyrical circular movements and elaborate costumes — originated in this tradition. The Meitei pottery tradition (laipot) producing red-brown clay water pots and ritual vessels and the black pottery (longpi pottery) of the Tangkhul Naga community in Ukhrul district are distinct ceramic traditions of the state.