DMCC urges NSD to remove “Lai Haraoba” from program title over concerns of cultural misrepresentation

The Cultural Committee of the Delhi Meetei Coordinating Committee (DMCC) has formally submitted a letter to the National School of Drama (NSD) and the organizers of an upcoming dance program, requesting the removal of the term “Lai Haraoba” from the program’s title.
In their statement, the DMCC expressed deep concern that the event, which is being organized under the NSD banner by a group of individuals, does not adhere to the essential religious and ritualistic principles required for any authentic representation of Lai Haraoba. The committee emphasized that Lai Haraoba is not merely a dance form but a sacred spiritual and religious practice intrinsic to the Meitei community, carrying profound cultural, cosmological, and ancestral significance.
According to the DMCC, portraying Lai Haraoba without proper spiritual and ritual grounding not only distorts the tradition but also risks violating the spiritual integrity of the practice. The committee feared such misrepresentation might offend religious sentiments and mislead audiences unfamiliar with the cultural context.
The DMCC highlighted the multidimensional significance of Lai Haraoba, describing it as a sacred communication between the Meitei people and their ancestral deities, a reflection of the community’s oral traditions and philosophy, a tool for social cohesion, a means of preserving indigenous knowledge systems, and a celebration of the ecological interconnectedness between humans and nature.
The committee further criticized the organizing group for failing to comply with “Suggested Preventive Measures” recommended by scholars and cultural practitioners. These include the need for respectful and accurate representation, clear contextualization, involvement of recognized Maibas and Maibis, highlighting of spiritual components, and collaboration with Meitei scholars and institutions to ensure authenticity.
In light of these concerns, the DMCC urged NSD to direct the removal or alteration of the term “Lai Haraoba” from the program title unless the event is organized in full accordance with traditional and spiritual protocols. They also called for broader engagement with recognized cultural bodies to ensure that future representations of Meitei heritage are respectful, inclusive, and accurate.
The letter was signed by Dr. N. Subhash Meetei, Secretary of Cultural and Public Affairs, DMCC.