Nupa Pala is a Manipuri dance form, normally performed by male dancers. It is a variation of another dance form called Pung Cholom and known as Cymbal Dance or Kartal Cholom. Nupa dance is associated with religious rites and performed as a prologue to the Ras Leela dance. According to legends, the indigenous people of Manipur were the music and dance experts Gandharvas and thus the dance patterns of Manipur have a touch of Gandharva culture.
Dancers wear White Pheijom (Dhoti) and spherical Turbans. They use Cymbals (hence the name Cymbal Dance) in the performance and sing and dance to the rhythm of Pung (Mridangam). The dance starts with a slow momentum and picks up the beat as the dance progresses. Pung is the main instrument of this dance form. This is generally a group dance but also performed individually.
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