Yumsharol Jagoi

Yumsharol Jagoi (ꯌꯨꯝꯁꯥꯔꯣꯜ ꯖꯒꯣꯏ),^[a] also known as Yumsharon Jagoi (ꯌꯨꯝꯁꯥꯔꯣꯟ ꯖꯒꯣꯏ),^[b] is a traditional dance form of the Meitei people from Manipur, India.^[1][2] This dance shows the process of building a house using special hand movements known as Yumsharol Khutthek (ꯌꯨꯝꯁꯥꯔꯣꯜ ꯈꯨꯠꯊꯦꯛ), which means "hand gestures of house construction." These gestures are used to represent different steps in making a house. It is a Meitei intangible cultural heritage.^[3]

Native nameꯌꯨꯝꯁꯥꯔꯣꯜ ꯖꯒꯣꯏ

EtymologyYumsharol & Jagoi

GenreYumsharol & Jagoi

InstrumentPena (musical instrument)

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Yumsharol Jagoi

A gesture (Khut-thek) of building a house in Lai Haraoba classical dance & music ritualistic performances
Native name	ꯌꯨꯝꯁꯥꯔꯣꯜ ꯖꯒꯣꯏ
Etymology	Yumsharol & Jagoi
Genre	Yumsharol & Jagoi
Instrument	Pena (musical instrument)
Inventor	Meitei people
Origin	Meitei civilisation, Ancient Kangleipak (early Manipur)
Related dances	Khamba Thoibi Jagoi & other dance forms of Lai Haraoba

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The dance is usually performed along with the Yumsharol song (ꯌꯨꯝꯁꯥꯔꯣꯜ ꯏꯁꯩ) and the music of a traditional instrument called the pena (musical instrument). Yumsharol Jagoi is an important part of Lai Haraoba (ꯂꯥꯏ ꯍꯔꯥꯎꯕ), a festival that celebrates the Meitei gods and the creation of the world according to Meitei religion and culture. The performance is both spiritual and artistic, showing respect for traditional ways of life and honoring the skills of house building as part of community life in Meitei civilization.^[4][5]