ABSTRACT
The paper deals with the aspects of fear which is used as an attribute of aesthetics within the context of Manipuri folklore. It focuses on the exploration of a well-established idea of western model of aesthetics where aesthetics mainly resembles beauty or things of beauty which is dissected with a new lens of understanding aesthetics using fear as a driving force within the context of Manipuri folklore. Analyzing the tradition of oral narratives mainly folktales and practices of rituals like Lai Haraoba (pleasing the gods), a descriptive analysis is employed with more emphasis on qualitative approach to understand the dynamics between fear and the evolution of aesthetics in Manipuri folklore. This paper investigates how fear is evoked, represented and experienced in Manipuri story telling with an in-depth approach on two folktales in particular i.e. Tapta and Lai Khutsangbi and also the elements of Lai Haraoba. A close-knit survey was conducted to understand how the common folks in Manipur perceived fear in accordance with Stephens King's type of fear. The paper hopes to understand the intricate relationship between Fear and aesthetics and also aims to contribute to the broader discourse on aesthetics, folklore, and indigenous knowledge systems, while also highlighting a significant gap in scholarly attention to Northeast Indian cultural expressions.
