Menora (dance)
Menora or Manora (มโนราห์; pronounced [mā.nōː.rāː]), sometimes simply shortened as Nora (โนรา; Thai pronunciation: [nōː.rāː]) is traditional Siamese theatrical, musical, and acrobatic dance performance originated from the southern regions of Thailand.[1] Having similar base of plot adopted from Jataka tales of Manohara, these kind of performance is somehow closely related to the Lakorn Chatri (ละครชาตรี), which is another Siamese arts performance originated from the central Thailand. Over five hundred years old, Nora is performed in Thailand's local community centres and at temple fairs and cultural events, and is passed on through training by masters in homes, community organizations and educational institutions.[1] In Malaysia, practice of Nora (or more commonly known as Menora) has been majorly declined since it received a lot of backlash and banned by the Malaysia's government who considered these kind of cultural performance as haram (lit. ‘forbidden’)[2] which does not reflects the Islamic values.[3][4]
.jpg.webp) | |
| Native name | Mnorāh̄̒ (Thai) |
|---|---|
| Etymology | Thai: มโนราห์, romanized: Mnorāh̄̒ |
| Instrument(s) | drums, gongs, cymbals and wooden clappers |
| Inventor | Siamese |
| Origin | Southern Thailand |
| Nora, dance drama in southern Thailand | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Country |  Thailand |
| Reference | 01587 |
| Region | Asia and the Pacific |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 2021 (16th session) |
| List | Representative List |
 | |
In 2021, Nora is officially recognized by the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) as the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity originated from southern Thailand.[1]
References
- "Nora, dance drama in southern Thailand". United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). 2021.
- Mohammad Taqi al-Modarresi (26 March 2016). The Laws of Islam (PDF). Enlight Press. ISBN 978-0994240989. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2019. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
- "Kelantan has no plans to lift ban on Menora". Head Topics. 27 January 2020.
- "Kelantan has no plans to lift ban on Menora". New Straits Times. 2020.
Further reading
- Ginsburg, Henry D. (1972). "The Menora dance-drama: an introduction" (PDF). Journal of the Siam Society. 60 (2): 169–181.
- Hemmet, Christine (1992). "Le Nora du sud de la Thaïlande: un culte aux ancêtres". Bulletin de l'École française d'Extrême-Orient. 79 (2): 261–282. doi:10.3406/befeo.1992.1881. JSTOR 43731384.
- Kershaw, Roger (1982). "A Little Drama of Ethnicity: Some Sociological Aspects of the Kelantan Manora". Southeast Asian Journal of Social Science. 10 (1): 69–95. doi:10.1163/156853182X00056. JSTOR 24490909.
- "CORRIGENDA: A Little Drama of Ethnicity: Some Sociological Aspects of the Kelantan Manora". Southeast Asian Journal of Social Science. 10 (2): 118. 1982. doi:10.1163/156853182X00191. JSTOR 24490818.
- Plowright, Poh Sim (November 1998). "The Art of Manora: an Ancient Tale of Feminine Power Preserved in South-East Asian Theatre". New Theatre Quarterly. 14 (56): 373–394. doi:10.1017/S0266464X00012458. S2CID 193245274.
- Sheppard, Mubin (1973). "MANORA in KELANTAN". Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. 46 (1 (223)): 160–170. JSTOR 41492072.
- Simmonds, E. H. S. (1967). "'Mahōrasop' in a Thai Manōrā Manuscript". Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. 30 (2): 391–403. doi:10.1017/S0041977X00062297. JSTOR 611002. S2CID 177913499.
- Simmonds, E. H. S. (1971). "'Mahōrasop' II: The Thai National Library Manuscript". Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. 34 (1): 119–131. doi:10.1017/S0041977X00141618. JSTOR 614627. S2CID 162819400.
- Sooi-Beng, Tan (1988). "The Thai 'Menora' in Malaysia: Adapting to the Penang Chinese Community". Asian Folklore Studies. 47 (1): 19–34. doi:10.2307/1178249. JSTOR 1178249.
