"Kao Phaba" (Meitei: ꯀꯥꯎ ꯐꯥꯕ), also known as "Khambana Kao Phaba" (Meitei: ꯈꯝꯕꯅ ꯀꯥꯎ ꯐꯥꯕ) (literally, "Khamba capturing the bull"[1][2]), is an episode of capturing the feral bull by Khuman Khamba in the Khamba Thoibi epic legend.[3] It is one of the most well known and the most celebrated legends in the modern popular culture of Manipur.

The Capture of the Wild Bull

In 2010, under the banner of the Laihui productions, an opera was produced "Kao, The Sacred Bull", based on the legend of capturing the bull.[4][5]

In 2019, a popular form of the episode, was reproduced in a canvas painting, with the title, "Khambana kao phaba". It was shown in an art exhibition in Bhopal, India.[6][7][8][9]

In 2020, the legend of capturing the bull, was displayed in its theatrical production, under the title "Kao Faba", in the Iboyaima Shummang Leela Shanglen, Palace Compound, Imphal.[10][11][12]

Further reading change

  • Indian Antiquary. 1877.
  • Hodson, Thomas Callan (1908). The Meitheis. ISBN 9788175361492.
  • Tombi Singh, N. (1976). Khamba and Thoibi: The Unscaled Height of Love.
  • "Kao a Glimpse of Manipuri Opera".
  • "Kao the sacred bull (2010)".

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