Wishesh magazine february 2018 Wishesh magazine february 2018 | Page 29

undertaken for the spiritual
and moral well-being of the
people, for purification and
peace of mind, to appease
the wrath of evil spirits or to
invoke the blessing of various
Buddhas, Bodhisattvas,
deities and rinpoches.
This buddhist chanting is
performed in groups, either
sitting indoors or accompanied
by dance in monastery
courtyards or private houses
10. Sankirtana, ritual
singing, drumming and
dancing of Manipur
It encompasses an array
of arts performed to mark
religious occasions and
various stages in the life of
the Vaishnava people of the
Manipur plains. Sankirtana
practices centre on the temple,
where performers narrate the
Brass and copper craft
Sankirtana, ritual singing
lives and deeds of Krishna
through song and dance. In
a typical performance, two
drummers and about ten
singer-dancers perform in a
hall or domestic courtyard
encircled by seated devotees.
Sankirtana has two main
social functions: it brings
people together on festive
occasions throughout the year,
acting as a cohesive force
within Manipur’s Vaishnava
community; and it establishes
and reinforces relationships
between the individual and the
community through life-cycle
ceremonies. It is regarded as
the visible manifestation of
God
11. Brass and copper
craft of utensil making
among the Thatheras
It is traditional technique
of manufacturing brass and
copper utensils in Punjab.
The metals used – copper,
brass and certain alloys – are
believed to be beneficial
for health. The process of
manufacturing is transmitted
orally from father to son. This
Metalwork is not simply a form
of livelihood for Thatheras,
but it defines their family and
kinship structure, work ethic
and status within the social
hierarchy of the town
12. Yoga
The philosophy of yoga is
not just physical well being
but it has influenced various
aspects of society in India,
such as health, medicine,
education and even the arts. It
is done to unify the mind with
the body to the soul to achieve
greater mental, emotional,
spiritual and physical
wellbeing. Yoga consists of a
series of poses, meditation,
controlled breathing etc. Yoga
was traditionally taught in
India from the old ages. It was
initially imparted by the Gurus
with proper knowledge and
skills. It also had associated
ancient manuscripts and
scriptures that are now used
in the teaching the practice
of yoga. Along with this there
are a vast range of modern
literature available on this
subject now.
FEBRUARY 2018 | WWW.WISHESH.NET