Menora (dance)

Manora

Native name	Manora (Thai)
Etymology	Thai: มโนราห์, romanized: Manora
Instrument(s)	drums, gongs, cymbals and wooden clappers
Inventor	Siamese
Origin	Southern Thailand

Nora, dance drama in southern Thailand
UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage
Country	Thailand
Domains	Oral traditions and expressions, performing arts, social practices, traditional craftsmanship
Criteria	R.1, R.2, R.3, R.4, R.5
Reference	1587
Region	Asia and the Pacific
Inscription history
Inscription	2021 (16th session)
List	Representative

Menora or Manora (มโนราห์, pronounced [mā.nōː.rāː]), sometimes shortened as Nora (โนรา, pronounced [nōː.rāː]) is traditional Siamese theatrical, musical, and acrobatic dance performance originated from the southern regions of Thailand.^[1] Having similar plots adopted from Jataka tales of Manohara, this kind of performance is related to the Lakhon chatri (ละครชาตรี), another Siamese arts performance originating from 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, the practice of Menora has significantly declined since it has been banned by the government of Kelantan, which considers this kind of cultural performance as haram (lit. ‘forbidden’)^[2] for being involved with polytheism.^[3]

In 2021, Nora was officially recognized by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.^[1]

• 
  Nora Dance at Wat Khien Bang Kaeo, Phatthalung province.
• 
  Nora Dance at Wat Khien Bang Kaeo, Phatthalung province.
• 
  Nora Dance performed at a temple fair in Koh Samui.

• 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.