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A Tapestry of Sacred Music

Phou-oibi, the Rice Goddess by Laihui Ensemble (Manipur,India)

21 Apr, Sun, 5pm
Esplanade Theatre Studio (50 mins, no intermission)

Laihui Ensemble – Phou-oibi, the Rice Goddess to perform at Esplanade Theatre Studio Singapore
Photo shared with Kanglaonline on email by Raj Singh, the event banner as seen on the streets of Singapore

“Go forth and bring prosperity to mankind.” So says the Supreme God to Phou-oibi before sending her and her friends out on a pilgrimage to Lamlen Madam Madaima, where mankind lives.

So begins the tale of Phou-oibi, The Rice Goddess – a ballad opera based on the tradiitonal harvest mythology of the Meitei people, whom live in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur.

Today, this ancient story is brought to you by acclaimed Manipuri group, Laihui Ensemble.

Their contemporary take on this ancient art form rarely seen outside of the region uses music, dance and theatre to tell the story of how the goddess came to the Meitei people and established the harvest rituals that have shaped their lives since.

Featuring a collaborative process between its performers, musicians and artists,Laihui Ensemble’s The Rice Goddess gives free rein to its artists to improvise, and in doing so, allows them to reconstruct a traditional art form into a comtemporary setting. Adding life to the dance and dialogue is music from traditional musical instruments of the region. A unique blend of elaborate costume designs, modern stage lighting and sound arrangements also serve to give this production a different twist.

As much as it is a showcase of the region’s rare indigenous performing arts, Laihui Ensemble’s The Rice Goddess is also, in fact, a ritual in a non-ritualistic space – one that will both bind audiences with exceptional story-telling and challenge traditional notions of performance.

Performed in Manipuri with English Surtitles.

Explorations: Find out more about this work and join us for a post-performance talk with the director.

Special thanks to India Foundation for the Arts (IFA) for supporting the production of Phou-oibi, the Rice Goddess in 2009.

The Rice Goddess Harvest Myths & Rituals of Manipur

Phou-oibi, the rice goddess, a Manipuri Ballad Opera (premier Imphal 2009). It was supported by IFA, Bengalaru: Photo : Laihui Ensemble Facebook

Each year, the shaman priestesses of Manipur come together to celebrate the rice harvest. Through music, theatre and dance, they tell the story of Phou-oibi, the Rice Goddess and how she brought the cultivation of grain to mankind. The ritual form of theatre they enact is rarely seen outside of the isolated north-eastern Indian state and showcases the unique culture and traditions of the state’s Meitei people.

The Meitei People of Manipur

Manipur – an isolated mountainous region in north-eastern India, bordered by the towering Himalayas to the north and Myanmar to the east, and home to the ancient Meitei people and many other tribes. The Meitei community today forms the majority of the people who live in the state and are also known as the Manipuris.

Consisting of seven clans, the Meitei community can trace their history back to when King Pakhangba of the Ningthouja Dynasty united the clans in 33AD and ascended the throne. Their culture and history is rich, drawing on both Hinduism and shamanistic pre-Hindu beliefs.

They are also famous for their beautifully expressive dance and music traditions which are closely tied to their religious beliefs. For the Meitei people, these traditions are a way of reaching out to and pleasing the gods. And thanks to the region’s isolated nature, these traditions have been preserved in their purest forms and kept out of reach from much of the external world.

Celebrating the Rice Harvest

A key ritual on the Manipuri calendar every year is Phougoural — Manipur’s harvest festival. The festival sees Meitei shamans, priests and farmers coming together to perform time-blessed ritual performances recalling the creation of the world and the lessons passed down from the gods to the first people.

One such ritual performance is the myth of Phou-oibi, of how the Rice Goddess came to the Meitei people, bringing with her the knowledge of rice cultivation. The characters and storylines of this myth have been passed down via oral tradition, sung and narrated from generation to generation.

Accompanying the dance and narrative aspects of such ritual performances is music from the traditional folk instruments of the region. They commonly include string instruments such as the Pena, Tingteila and Pejao, wind instruments such as the Yangkahui, Moibung and Toudri, as well as percussion instruments such as the Langden, Pung, Dhulok and Tompung. Other instruments made from bamboo and wood are also used to provide sound effects.
Laihui’s The Rice Goddess
In recent years, interest in the dance, music and classical theatre of Manipur has seen a resurgence, thanks to groups dedicated towards developing and popularising these indigenous art forms. One such group is the acclaimed Laihui.

Established in 1985, Laihui conducts intensive research into the traditional arts of Manipur and organises seminars, workshops and performances in India and internationally. In their production of Phou-oibi, The Rice Goddess, they have brought together a unique blend of elaborate costume designs, modern stage lighting and sound arrangements to give this traditional ritual performance a contemporary twist.

Beautifully directed by Director M Mangangsana, the Laihui ballad opera opens to a stage reminiscent of a village Laai Haraaoba (festival) platform. The musicians and narrator take their places in a circular formation to the sides and back, while the dancers command centre stage. Coming together, the Laihui artists slowly unknot this ancient tale with style, depth and huge emotional range.

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