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| Manipuri Bride in Wedding Costume (photo Source :12bubbles.com) |
The beautiful bridal wear potloi
is the wedding dress of Manipuri brides. This stunning costume was originally
introduced by Maharaj Bhagya Chandra of Manipur, India. During his reign, he
used to organize Rasa Lila Dance where the potlois were seen worn out by the Gopis
and Shrimati Radhika . And, it is believed that that was the time when potloi had
come into popularity due to its elegance and uniqueness. Later, the Manipuri
Meiteis, who follow vaishnavaism, started to use this as the bridal wedding
dress.
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| Manipuri Rasa Lila Dance (Photo source e-pao.net) |
What Manipuri brides wear in
their wedding day in present days had actually undergone a lot of changes since
its inception during the reign of Maharaj Bhagya Chandra according to the “Cultural
History of Manipuri: Sija Laioibi and the Mahara” by Dr. Jamini Devi. This book
contains the whole detail about Potloi and the best part of it is that it had
been translated into English by Sheela Devi Chaudhary. So, people who want to
know the beautiful culture of the Manipuris and especially, about the stories
related with the potloi, could go through this book. Perhaps, these stories
will make people aware that from where and how this amazing design of wedding
costume gets its inspiration and probably, this will definitely give you some
vivid ideas and clues to our generation and the generations to come. So, let us
respect and preserve this beautiful traditional wedding and Rasa Lila Costume
of the Manipuris of India.
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| Latest Designs of Potloi (photo source e-pao.net) |
Born and brought up in Assam,
India in a Vaishnava Hindu Manipuri family since my childhood this Manipuri
Costume of Rasa Lila has allured me pretty much. And, I always wanted to know
about it. But, for the first time while I was a kid I have seen my aunt wearing
it in her wedding day. I still remember my classmates and friends from other Indian
communities used to ask me about this dress and more curiously they used to ask
me about how a girl could move or stand or sit while she in potloi. Because, it’s kind of a skirt
that covers right from the top of the waist to toe and it looks heavy and
oversized as well. Apparently though, I was curious too that time I had also no
clue over this whole matter. But, yes after the experience of wearing potloi in
my own wedding now I have some answer. Though
it is heavy, still one can manage to move and make slow steps as well,
otherwise, how it would be possible to make those beautiful and difficult dance
steps in Rasa Lila after wearing this Manipuri Rasa Lila Costume.
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| Close up look of Potloi |
The Manipuri bridal wedding dress
includes gold and other accessories with the Rasa Lila Skirt.The Gopis wear the Potloi kumin as skirt and it is beautifully decorated
with glitter items and the skirt is covered with
satin and fully embellished with different pieces of brass in Rasa Lila. The designs are all of
bright colors and especially, Shrimati Radhika wears the green potloi and the Gopis wear the red potloi. But, the red potlois are worn mostly in wedding. However, a
bride can also wear the green potloi if she wishes to. Since, Potloi is the Rasa Lila
costume it has other accessories and clothing items to complement with it. In
Manipuri wedding, the bridal costumes are almost like Rasa Lila costumes but the only difference
lies in upper portion of the costume. Because, wearing koktumbi is not
necessary in the wedding. Instead, brides wear beautiful hair accessories and
the innaphi to cover the blouse. Last but not the least, all the makeups and
makeovers are incomplete without thilak (chandan siri kangba) on the forehead of
both bride and bridegroom because wearing Tilak is the essential part of the
Manipuri Vaishnava devotees. However, other than the occasion of marriage ceremony,
they just wear tilak while attending and organizing every auspicious occasion
held in their community.
Manipuri Rasa Lila Dance and a small
part of Manipuri wedding Video are included here:
You will learn by reading
But you will understand with love.
~ Shams
Tabrizi J
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