All the dance forms and the dance festivals taking place in Manipur are more or less intertuined with the folk tales of the hilly state and not with the puritanical, refined Hindu Society under the Brahmanic influence. After thorough research work, the savants claim that the influence of traditional classical dance on Manipuri school of dance is because its manifold shades are based on Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati as well as their incarnations Khamba and Khaibi. However, it cannot be concluded whether the classical elements in Manipuri which have been prevailing since the last couple of centuries existed in the pre-chaitanya era or more precisely during the advent of Vaishnava cult.
A delve into the history and background of this dance reveals that Manipuri started assuming the classical fervour, from the time of advent of the Vaishnava cult and wide scale social reformation. ‘Natasamkirtan’ is an inextricable part of Manipuri dance. Its characteristic feature is to render a separate and distinct entity to the Vaishnava philosophy in Bengal. This Bengali Vaishnava philosophy has wonderfully mingled with the local myths and religious faiths of Manipur as well as the Tantrik sect.