ULAB holds workshop on Manipuri culture, performing arts

The programme combines academic discussion with live dance and drum performances.

The University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) has organised an academic workshop and cultural performance on Manipuri culture, society and performing arts as part of its Introduction to Drama course.

The Department of General Education (GED), in collaboration with MAATRA Gobeshona Songstha, arranged the programme titled "Manipuri Culture: Society, Festivals and Performing Arts" under the chairmanship of Prof Shahnaj Husne Jahan, head of the department.

The workshop featured a lecture by Manipuri researcher Sukanta Sinha, who spoke on the community's history, cultural heritage, social life, festivals, music, dance traditions and artistic legacy, the ULAB said in media statement.

Students took part in an interactive question-and-answer session that encouraged discussion on different aspects of Manipuri culture, it added.

A highlight of the event was a live Pung (Manipuri drum) performance and classical Manipuri dance by Arnab Sharma, an adjunct faculty member of the Department of Dance at Dhaka University.

The performance gave participants “a practical understanding of the aesthetics, rhythm, spirituality and expressive traditions of Manipuri performing arts”.

The university said students showed “strong” interest throughout the programme, which combined academic discussions with live cultural performances to offer an experiential learning opportunity and deepen appreciation of Bangladesh's cultural diversity and intangible cultural heritage.

The GED at ULAB and MAATRA Gobeshona Songstha said the initiative reflected their shared commitment to promoting indigenous knowledge, preserving cultural heritage, encouraging intercultural dialogue and enriching students' learning through academic and cultural engagement.