ABSTRACT
Manipur is famous for its rich cultural heritage of dance and music of the valley and hill people. Whenever the authors discuss the cultural heritage of the valley people known as Meitei or Manipuri, we refer to two broad layers, viz., the pre-Vaishnavite phase of the early period dominated by Tantric culture and Vaishnavite phase since fifteenth century AD. Lai Haraoba dance is a traditional festival of Manipur celebrated since primeval times by the Lais who inhabited Koubru hill and all over Manipur, in its original chaste form. Lai haraoba is the original source of Manipuri dance and music, rites and rituals, indigenous games, sports and primitive life of Manipur. In short it may be vestigal totemistic belief and the culture of Meitei is derived from the Lai Haraoba. Manipuri Nata Sankirtan is a major ritual ceremony for followers of the Vaishnava religion it is a devotional singing and dancing.
