Original Article
ISSN (Online): 2582-7472
ShodhKosh: Journal of Visual and Performing Arts
July - December 2021 2(2), 151-160
How to cite this article (APA): Singh, L. S. (2021). The Motor Skills for Performing Manipuri Pung Cholom. ShodhKosh: Journal of
Visual and Performing Arts, 2(2), 151-160. doi: 10.29121/shodhkosh.v2.i2.2021.49
151
THE MOTOR SKILLS FOR PERFORMING MANIPURI PUNG CHOLOM
Leitanthem Santosh Singh
1
1
Research Scholar, Department of Dance and Music, Manipur University, India
Received 04 September 2021
Accepted 08 October 2021
Published 26 November 2021
Corresponding Author
Leitanthem Santosh Singh,
leitanthem.santosh859@gmail.com
DOI
10.29121/shodhkosh.v2.i2.2021.49
Funding: This research received no
specific grant from any funding agency in
the public, commercial, or not-for-profit
sectors.
Copyright: © 2021 The Author(s). This
is an open access article distributed
under the terms of the Creative
Commons Attribution License, which
permits unrestricted use, distribution,
and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original author and source
are credited.
ABSTRACT
Manipuri Nata-Sankirtana is a unique type of performing art form where Manipuri
male musicians sing Sankirtana using musical instruments such as Pung (Manipuri
percussion musical instrument) by Pungyeiba (Pung player), Kartal (Manipuri cymbal)
by Eshei-sakpa (singers), and Moibung (Conch Shell) by Moibungkhongba (conch
blower) by following its prescribed sequence. The percussion musical instrument,
Pung is the soul of such performance. It is necessary to know how Pung Cholom (the
dexterous and vigorous movements of the body from head to toe in tune with the beats
of playing Pung simultaneously in a creative manner by the Pungyeiba) is done and
what are the motor skills involved in performing it. The discussion has the following
objectives: Identifying the different parts of the body involved in doing Pung Cholom,
knowing the basic foundations for playing Pung, and understanding the basic motor
skills for performing Pung Cholom. It uses descriptive qualitative method. This utilizes
the tools and techniques of interview and observation. This will bring out the different
aspects of Manipuri Pung Cholom helping in the learning area of psychomotor skill,
giving global benefits in performing arts.
Keywords: Cholom, Guru-Shishya Parampara, Manipuri Nata-Sankirtana, Motor
Skills, Pung Cholom
1. INTRODUTION
Manipur, a land situated in the north-eastern part of India, is well known
for its diverse art and culture worldwide. A particular mention can be made of
the famous performing art form, Manipuri Nata-Sankirtana. Manipuri Nata-
Sankirtana is a unique type of performing art form where Manipuri male
musicians or artistes sing Sankirtana using musical instruments such as Pung
(a Manipuri percussion musical instrument) by Pungyeiba (Pung player),
Kartal (a Manipuri cymbal) by Eshei-sakpa (singers or vocalist) and Moibung
(Conch Shell) by Moibungkhongba (conch blower or conch sound producer) by
following its prescribed sequence. It is also included in UNESCO's Intangible
Cultural Heritage List of Humanity as Sankirtana: ritual singing, drumming, and
dancing of Manipur, on 4th December 2013.
The Manipuri Nata-Sankirtana education was developed under the
disciplined and bhakti manner of Guru-Shishya parampara, where pupils stay
at the house of Guru or come from their respective places every day. The Guru
is considered as the second parent. Here, students do most of the domestic
works of Guru, thereby learning the socialization process in many ways. The
teacher-taught relationship is very cordial and intimate. The Guru is regarded