The talent of artists from North eastern state of Mizoram was on display at the Ecole Globale International Girls School Dehradun on Monday. These artistes were performing under the aegis of the Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Indian Youth (SPIC MACAY). They presented a riveting demonstration of the Manipuri martial art Thang Ta and Manipuri drum dance Pung Cholam which enthralled the students.
The group from Manipur performed a breathtaking display of perfect synchronisation with their soft and rhythmic movements while presenting the Pung Cholam, an ancient dance style performed with mridanga or drum and involving a complex series of beats and compositions.
It was followed by series of demonstrations based on the art of sword and spear, Thang ta. Thang ta is an ancient Manipuri Martial Art also known as Huyen lallong, in which weapons like the sword and the spear were traditionally used to ward off spirits and protect oneself from human assailants. Various members of the group demonstrated the use of the sword and the spear in different combat situations, concluding with an introduction to some basic but effective defensive techniques which, they suggested, may be especially relevant to the girl students.
Speaking on the occasion the Principal of tge school Nandita Sahu, said that their faultless performance of the complex and expressive arts and was proof that hard work can make anything possible.