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{{Short description|Ethnic group of South Asia}}{{Redirect|Manipuri people}}{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}{{Use Indian English|date=September 2023}}

factoids

people {{!}} Britannica >url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Meitei website=www.britannica.com archive-date=15 November 2022 weblink >url-status=live }}}}50px|)| native_name_lang = mni| flag = Salai Taret Flag.svg| flag_caption = Cultural flag of the Meitei people| image = | total = 1,800,000+| total_year = 2011| region1 = {{IND}}WEBSITE=CENSUS.GOV.IN QUOTE=LISTED AS MANIPURI IN THE 2011 INDIAN CENSUS ARCHIVE-URL=HTTPS://WEB.ARCHIVE.ORG/WEB/20200815041600/HTTPS://CENSUSINDIA.GOV.IN/2011CENSUS/LANGUAGE-2011/STATEMENT-1.PDF, live, 10}} ManipurWEBSITE=CENSUS.GOV.IN ARCHIVE-DATE=12 JANUARY 2020 URL-STATUS=LIVE, 10}} AssamWEBSITE=CENSUS.GOV.IN ARCHIVE-DATE=20 OCTOBER 2020 URL-STATUS=LIVE, 10}} TripuraWEBSITE=CENSUS.GOV.IN ARCHIVE-DATE=10 APRIL 2021 URL-STATUS=LIVE, 10}} NagalandWEBSITE=CENSUS.GOV.IN ARCHIVE-DATE=12 JANUARY 2020 URL-STATUS=LIVE, 10}} MeghalayaWEBSITE=CENSUS.GOV.IN ARCHIVE-DATE=12 JANUARY 2020 URL-STATUS=LIVE, 10}} Arunachal PradeshWEBSITE=CENSUS.GOV.IN ARCHIVE-DATE=19 JUNE 2021 URL-STATUS=LIVE, 10}} MizoramWEBSITE=CENSUS.GOV.IN ARCHIVE-DATE=12 JANUARY 2020 URL-STATUS=LIVE, Myanmar}}| pop9 = 25,000Bangladesh}}| pop10 = 15,00020px) Meitei language {{small|(officially known as Manipuri language)}}Majority:(File:Om.svg>15px) Hinduism - predominately VaishnavismMinority:{{hlist30px) Sanamahism,15px) Meitei Muslims, (File:Christian cross.svg>12px) Meitei Christians and (File:Dharma Wheel.svg>18px) Buddhism}}See religion among Meitei peopleMeitei Pangals, Tai people>Tai, Bishnupriya people, Naga people>Nagas, Kuki-Zo}}{{Contains special characters|Meitei}}{{Meitei people}}The Meitei people, Meetei,JOURNAL, Samson, Kamei, 2019, Theorising Social Fear in the Context of Collective Actions in Manipur, Journal of Northeast Indian Cultures, 4, 2, 12–43,weblink 26 October 2020, 4 December 2020,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20201204083235weblink">weblink live, P.20: "historically, academically and conventionally Manipuri prominently refers to the Meetei people."P.24: "For the Meeteis, Manipuris comprise Meeteis, Lois, Kukis, Nagas and Pangal." Manipuri people is an ethnic group native to Manipur. They form the largest and dominant ethnic group of Manipur in Northeast India. They speak the Meitei language (officially called Manipuri), one of the 22 official languages of the Indian Republic and the sole official language of Government of Manipur.WEB, Manipuri language {{!, Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Manipuri-language |access-date=15 November 2022 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en |archive-date=11 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220711165900weblink |url-status=live }} The Meiteis primarily settled in the Imphal Valley region in modern-day Manipur, though a sizeable population has settled in the other Indian states of Assam, Tripura, Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Mizoram.WEB, Meitei,weblink Ethnologue, 29 September 2020,weblink 24 July 2019, WEB, Festivals in Meghalaya, Fairs and Festivals of Meghalaya,weblink Travelhot.in, 13 November 2018, 8 October 2018,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20181008084108weblink">weblink live, There is also a notable presence of Meitei people in the neighbouring countries of Myanmar and Bangladesh.NEWS, Thokchom, Khelen, Myanmar Meiteis in search of roots,weblink 29 September 2020, The Telegraph, 19 May 2008, 2 December 2020,weblink live, The Meitei ethnic group represents about 53% of Manipur's population.Khomdan Singh Lisam, Encyclopaedia Of Manipur, {{ISBN|978-8178358642}}, pp. 322–347

Endonyms and exonyms

The Meitei are known by a number of endonyms, Meitei, Meetei, Meithei (Meitei), and as well as by numerous exonyms, such as Meckley,JOURNAL, Temple, RC, 1894, Contributions Towards the History of Anglo: Burmese Words,weblink The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, 152–164, 20 September 2023, 27 April 2021,weblink live, JOURNAL, Sanjeev, Thingnam, 2020, Surveying and producing the frontier in nineteenth century Manipur: challenges and practices,weblink Asian Ethnicity, 21, 1, 122–136, 10.1080/14631369.2019.1585750, 150642454, 20 September 2023, 27 April 2021,weblink live, Manipuri, Cassay-Shan, and Kathe (Burmese). {{sfn|Parratt|2005|loc=Vol. 1|pp=24}} The term Manipuri is widely used, but problematic because of its ambiguous scope: next to being a synonym for Meitei/Meetei, it can also refer in a wider sense to the native ethnic groups in the hills of Manipur.

Geographical distribution

India

Manipur

The Indian state of Manipur has the largest Meitei population among all its geographical distribution.WEB, Manipuri language {{!, Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Manipuri-language |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220711165900weblink |archive-date=11 July 2022 |access-date=14 March 2023 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}

Assam

{{Further|Barak Valley#Languages|Meitei associate official language movement}}(File:Map of Barak Valley.jpg|thumb|Districts of Barak Valley - Meitei speaking population settlement areas of Assam)Meitei people are the third largest ethnic group, after Bengalis and Hindi speaking people, in the Barak Valley region of Assam state of India.JOURNAL, Mishra, Awadesh, 1 January 1999, The Manipuris in the Barak Valley: A Case Study of Language Maintenance',weblink live, Linguistics of the Tibeto-Burman Area,weblink 25 April 2023, 20 September 2023,

Bangladesh

(File:Sylhet in Bangladesh.svg|thumb|Areas where there is significant population of Meiteis in Bangladesh)The population of Meiteis are found in four districts of Sylhet Division in Bangladesh, namely Sylhet District (thirteen villages), Moulvibazar District (twenty-eight vilalges), Sunamganj District (three villages) and Habiganj District (four villages). In early times, there were Meitei population in Dhaka, Mymensingh and Comilla also.WEB, Textile Bdesh Myanmar 3,weblink 14 March 2023, www.e-pao.net, 23 December 2022,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20221223091851weblink">weblink live,

Myanmar

Myanmar has a significant population of Meitei people in Kachin state, Yangon Region, Sagaing Region, Shan state, Ayeyarwady Region, among others.WEB, Manipuri in Myanmar 1,weblink 14 March 2023, e-pao.net, 14 March 2023,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20230314123650weblink">weblink live,

Origins and history

BOOK, Siṃha, Niṃthaukhoṃjama Khelacandra,weblink Manipuri Language: Status and Importance, N. Tombi Raj Singh, 1975, 34, en, mni, The beginning of this old Manipuri literature (as in the case of Newari) may go back to 1500 years, or even 2000 years, from now..., Ningthoukhongjam Khelchandra, 20 September 2023, 20 September 2023,weblink live, BOOK, Sanajaoba, Naorem,weblink Manipur, Past and Present: The Heritage and Ordeals of a Civilization, 1988, Mittal Publications, 978-81-7099-853-2, 290, en, 20 September 2023, 20 September 2023,weblink live, }}The earliest sections of the Cheitharol Kumbaba, a Meitei chronicle, record the gradual spread of Meiteis across and their assimilation of other clans into a confederacy.{{sfnp|Parratt|2005|pp=4}}{{sfnp|Sebastian|2019|pp=57-58}}

In Kangleipak (Manipur)

In 1100 CE, Loyumba Shinyen (|{{Script|Latn|Loyumpa Shinyen}}}}), an ancient Meitei language constitution was written and regulated under the supervision of Meitei King Loiyumba (Loyumba) (1074 CE-1112 CE) in the Ancient Kangleipak (early Manipur).BOOK, Sanajaoba, Naorem,weblink Law and Society: Strategy for Public Choice, 2001, 1991, Mittal Publications, 978-81-7099-271-4, 304, en, 20 September 2023, 20 September 2023,weblink live, It is a formal proclamation of the proto-constitution which was drafted in 429 CE by Meitei King Naophangba.BOOK, Sanajaoba, Naorem,weblink Manipur: Treatise & Documents, 1993, Mittal Publications, 978-81-7099-399-5, 2, en, 20 September 2023, 20 September 2023,weblink live, BOOK, Sanajaoba, Naorem,weblink Law and Society: Strategy for Public Choice, 2001, 1991, Mittal Publications, 978-81-7099-271-4, 304, en, 20 September 2023, 20 September 2023,weblink live, BOOK, Sanajaoba, Naorem,weblink Manipur: Treatise & Documents, 1993, Mittal Publications, 978-81-7099-399-5, 2, en, 20 September 2023, 20 September 2023,weblink live, The idea of its constitutionalism was functional until it was substituted by the Manipur State Constitution Act 1947.BOOK, Sanajaoba, Naorem,weblink Law and Society: Strategy for Public Choice, 2001, 1991, Mittal Publications, 978-81-7099-271-4, 304, en, 20 September 2023, 20 September 2023,weblink live,

In Myanmar (Burma)

(File:Manipuri horseman.jpg|thumb|An 1855 watercolour of a Kathe horseman in the Burmese royal service)Myanmar is home to a sizeable community of Meiteis, who are called Kathe in Burmese.JOURNAL, Nongthombam, Jiten, 1 July 2011, The Meitei Diaspora in Myanmar,weblink Diaspora Studies, 4, 2, 155–167, 10.1080/09739572.2011.10597359, 31 January 2024, 0973-9572, 20 September 2023, 11 December 2020,weblink live, Unlike other Hindu communities in Myanmar, the Meitei resemble other Burmese ethnic groups in terms of physical appearance, which has accelerated their assimilation and integration into Burmese society. In the early 1950s, Burmese Meiteis numbered approximately 40,000, with a third of them residing in Mandalay.BOOK, Sanajaoba, Naorem, Manipur, Past and Present: The Heritage and Ordeals of a Civilization, 1988, Mittal Publications, 978-81-7099-853-2, en, Current estimates are approximately 25,000.WEB, Manipuris in Mandalay see ray of hope in Modi,weblink Sunil, Oinam, 14 July 2015, The Times of India, en, 25 May 2020, 2 December 2020,weblink live, Meiteis have resettled throughout the country, including in villages near Myitkyina to the north, Homalin, Kalewa, Pyay, in the center of the country, and Yangon to the south. They continue to practice Hinduism in Myanmar.NEWS, 13 June 2019, စစ်ကိုင်းမြို့တွင် ကသည်းမယ်တော်ကြီးချိုးရေတော်သုံးပွဲကျင်းပ, Eleven Broadcasting,weblinkweblink 21 December 2021, live, Three festivals of Kathe Maedaw Gyi Cho Ye Taw held in Sagaing, {{cbignore}}As a result of wars between Meitei kingdom and the Konbaung dynasty between the 17th and 18th centuries, many Meiteis were resettled in the Burmese kingdom.JOURNAL, Oinam, Bhagat, 2005, Murayama, Mayumi, Manipur,weblink Sub-Regional Relations in the Eastern South Asia: With Special Focus on India's North Eastern Region, 133, 20 September 2023, 2 December 2020,weblink dead, Some Meitei settlements in modern-day Myanmar originate from the 1758–1759 war, and from the Burmese occupation of Manipur from 1819 to 1826. Alaungpaya, during the former campaign, resettled Meiteis in Sagaing and Amarapura. The Meitei people's horsemanship skills were employed in the Burmese royal army, where they formed the elite Cassay cavalry (ကသည်းမြင်းတပ်) and artillery regiments (ကသည်းအမြောက်တပ်) which were employed during the Burmese–Siamese wars.JOURNAL, Singha, Memchaton, 2016, Marriage Diplomacy Between the States of Manipur and Burma, 18Th to 19Th Centuries, Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, 77, 874–879, 2249-1937, 26552717, The Burmese court also retained a retinue of Manipuri Brahmins called Bamons, also called Kathe Ponna (ကသည်းပုဏ္ဏား) to advise and conduct court rituals.

Language and writing systems

The Meitei people speak the Meitei language (also known as the Manipuri language), a Tibeto-Burman language. Meitei is one of the languages with legal status in India, and was included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India in 1992.WEB,weblink Eight Schedule of the Constitution of India, Mha.nic.in, 30 September 2017,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160305010536weblink">weblink 5 March 2016, dead, There are many Meitei language movements, including classical language movement (predominantly in Manipur]), associate official language movement (in Assam), linguistic purism movement (predominantly in Manipur), etc.Historically and then after a long gap, presently, Meitei was written in the indigenous Meitei mayek script.WEB, History of Meetei Mayek,weblink Tabish.freeshell.org, 30 September 2017, 29 September 2017,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20170929043313weblink">weblink live, The script was replaced by an alphabet based on the Bengali script in the early 18th century.WEB,weblink Manipuri language and alphabets, Omniglot.com, 30 September 2017, 27 May 2008,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20080527154306weblink">weblink live, The Meitei Mayek script has seen a revival in recent decades, and is now seen in street signs, schools, newspapers, and legislative proceeding records.NEWS, Laithangbam, Iboyaima, Banished Manipuri script stages a comeback,weblink 7 October 2020, The Hindu, 23 September 2017, en-IN, 9 November 2020,weblink live,

Literature

{{Further|Meitei literature|Meitei proverbs|Meitei Mahabharata|List of epics in Meitei language}}File:The classical Meitei epic of the "Numit Kappa", written in ancient Meitei language (in archaic Meitei script).jpg|thumb|The Numit KappaNumit KappaAmong the heritage of diverse literary works in Meitei literature, the Khamba Thoibi Sheireng, {{meitei|ꯈꯝꯕ ꯊꯣꯏꯕꯤ ꯁꯩꯔꯦꯡ|lit=poem on Khamba Thoibi}}BOOK, George, K. M.,weblink Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Surveys and poems, Sahitya Akademi, 1992, 978-81-7201-324-0, India, 29, en, 20 September 2023, 9 March 2023,weblink live, ), is regarded as the national epic of the Manipuris.BOOK, George, K. M.,weblink Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Surveys and poems, 1992, Sahitya Akademi, 978-81-7201-324-0, India, 258, en, H. Anganghal Singh's Khamba Thoibi Sheireng (Poem on Khamba Thoibi, 1940) is a national epic of the Manipuris based on the story of Khamba and Thoibi of Moirang. The poet composes the whole epic in the Pena Saisak style of folk ballads sung by minstrels or bards popular in Manipur., 20 September 2023, 9 March 2023,weblink live, BOOK, Datta, Amaresh,weblink Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Devraj to Jyoti, Sahitya Akademi, 1988, 978-81-260-1194-0, India, 1186, en, 20 September 2023, 9 March 2023,weblink live, BOOK, Das, Sisir Kumar,weblink A History of Indian Literature: 1911-1956, struggle for freedom : triumph and tragedy, Sahitya Akademi, 2005, 978-81-7201-798-9, 190, en, His epic Singel Indu was published in 1938 which was followed by his magnum opus Khamba Thoibi Sheireng (1940), a poem of 39000 lines, considered to be the 'national' epic of the Manipuris, written in the Pena Saisak style of folk ballads., 20 September 2023, 9 March 2023,weblink live, It is an epic poem based on the ancient romantic adventure tale of Khamba and Thoibi. It is the best known magnum opus of Hijam Anganghal Singh. It is often considered to be the greatest of all the Meitei epic poems. At 39,000 verses, it isthe longest Indian epic just after the Mahabharata and the Ramayana.BOOK, Datta, Amaresh,weblink Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Devraj to Jyoti, Sahitya Akademi, 1988, 978-81-260-1194-0, India, 1573, en, His best work, Khamba Thoibi sheireng, in 39,000 lines on the story of 'Khamba and Thoibi' was started in 1939 and the composition was completed in 1940., 20 September 2023, 9 March 2023,weblink live, BOOK, Delhi, All India Radio (AIR), New,weblink AKASHVANI: Vol. XL. No. 35 ( 31 AUGUST, 1975 ), 31 August 1975, All India Radio (AIR), New Delhi, 1582, en, 20 September 2023, 9 March 2023,weblink live,

Culture {{Anchor|Civilization|Civilisation}}

{{Further|traditional Meitei religion|Meitei mythology|Meitei literature|Meitei folktales|Meitei folklore|Meitei festivals|Meitei dances|Manipuri classical dance}}{{Multiple image|perrow = 2|total_width=300| image1 = The Tableau of State of Manipur passing through the Rajpath during the full dress rehearsal for Republic Day Parade - 2005, in New Delhi on January 23, 2005.jpg| image2 = The tableau of state of Manipur passing through the Rajpath during the full dress rehearsal for the Republic Day Parade in New Delhi on January 23,2006.jpg| image3 = The tableau of Manipur passes through the Rajpath, on the occasion of the 69th Republic Day Parade 2018, in New Delhi on January 26, 2018.jpg| image4 = The tableau of Manipur passes through the Rajpath during the full dress rehearsal for the Republic Day Parade-2017, in New Delhi on January 23, 2017.jpg| image5 = The tableau of Manipur passes through the Raj path during the 61st Republic Day Parade-2010, in New Delhi on January 26, 2010.jpg| size = 280| spacing = 1| position = centre| border = 0| color = white Republic of India honouring and showcasing the cultural heritage of the Meiteis (clockwise from the top): Kangla Fort, Thang-Ta and the composite culture of (2005), Shri Shri Govindaji Temple, Yaoshang and Pung Cholom (2006), Maibi and Lai Haraoba (2017), Hiyang Hiren and Pakhangba (2010), Maiba, Pena (musical instrument) & Khamba Thoibi Jagoi (2018)}}

Architectural designs and sculptures

{{Further|Meitei architecture}}Some of the significant intricate designs of the traditional Meitei architecture and sculptures are seen in various buildings and institutions, especially the temples of traditional Meitei religion, namely Hiyangthang Lairembi Temple, Pakhangba Temple, Kangla, Sanamahi Kiyong Temple, Thangjing Temple, Moirang, among many. Others include the Ima Keithel, Kangla Sanathong, among many. include Some of the worthy to mention finely crafted sculptures are the Marjing Polo Statue, Kangla Sha sculptures, Statue of Meidingu Nara Singh, among many.

Classical and folk dances, festivals and ritualistic theatres

(File:Lai Haraoba-3 - 5571676820.jpg|right|thumb|233x233px| dancing in )The is a traditional Meitei ritualistic theatrical festival, consisting of different dances, musical performances and carnivals in the temples and the streets. It's dedicated to the worship of the ancient Meitei gods and goddesses, who are categorised as the and .WEB, Lai Haraoba,weblink 2 August 2023, Sahapedia, en, 2 August 2023,weblink live, WEB, Lai Haraoba - a fertility rite of the Meitei,weblink 2 August 2023, Imphal Free Press, en, 2 August 2023,weblink live, File:Rasa Lila in Manipuri dance style.jpg|thumb|256x256px|RaslilaRaslilaThe Manipuri classical dance, also referred to as the Manipuri Raas Leela (BOOK, Banerjee, Utpal Kumar, Indian Performing Arts: A Mosaic, 2006, Harman Publishing House, 978-81-86622-75-9, en, BOOK, Sruti, 2006, P.N. Sundaresan, en, BOOK, Derek, O' Brien, Knowledge Trek 7, 2/E, 2006, Pearson Education India, 978-81-7758-055-6, en, ), is a jagoi and is one of the major Indian classical dance forms, originating from the historical Manipur Kingdom.WEB, Manipuri {{!, History, Characteristics, & Facts {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/art/manipuri |access-date=2 August 2023 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en |archive-date=12 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212081642weblink |url-status=live }}

Theatre and cinema

File:Meitei Cinema - Maniwood Clapperboard.jpg|thumb|The clapperboard of Meitei cinema (ManiwoodManiwoodThe first Manipuri-language film, Matamgi Manipur, was released on 9 April 1972.WEB,weblink Manipuri Cinema, kanglafilms.com, 1 January 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20151222102333weblink">weblink 22 December 2015, dead, Paokhum Ama (1983) is the first full-length colour feature film (according to the Academy's definition of a feature film)WEB,weblink 91st Academy Awards Rules, The Oscars, 4 November 2019, 23 August 2019,weblink live, of Manipur and was directed by Aribam Syam Sharma. Lammei (2002) is the first Manipuri Video film to have a commercial screening at a theatre.WEB,weblink From Manipur, stories of the women actors who didn't get to play Mary Kom, 17 August 2014, The Indian Express, 20 September 2023, 11 February 2017,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20170211125149weblink">weblink live,

Golden Montgolfiere at the Nantes

(1981) is the

only Indian film that gets the Golden Montgolfiere at the Festival des 3 Continents, Nantes in 1982, bringing fame and honour of the Indian cinema at the international platform.WEB, Digitised Imagi Ningthem screened at Pune film fest : 15th jan14 ~ E-Pao! Headlines,weblink 31 July 2023, e-pao.net, 9 March 2023,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20230309173218weblink">weblink live, NEWS, 6 April 2022, New book traces journey of Manipuri cinema, en-IN, The Hindu,weblink 31 July 2023, 0971-751X, 31 July 2023,weblink live,

World classic in the Cannes

(1990) was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1991 Cannes Film Festival,WEB,weblink Festival de Cannes: The Chosen One, 10 August 2009, festival-cannes.com, 10 July 2011,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20110710235057weblink">weblink live, and again after a gap of 33 years, it was recognised as a "World Classic" by the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. Notably, it was the only film selected from India for the event in that year.NEWS, 6 May 2023, Manipuri feature film 'ISHANOU' recognised as World Classic, The Economic Times,weblink 31 July 2023, 0013-0389, 31 July 2023,weblink live, WEB, Aribam Syam Sharma's ISHANOU recognised as World Classic,weblink 31 July 2023, Imphal Free Press, en, 31 July 2023,weblink live, WEB, Manipuri Film 'Ishanou' Becomes India's Only Restored Film To Be Screened At Cannes 2023,weblink Outlook India, 20 September 2023, 31 July 2023,weblink live,

Achievements in the National Film Awards

{{Further|National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Meitei}}

Religions and beliefs

{{Further|Sanamahism|Sanamahi creation myth|Meitei deities|Meitei dragons|List of creatures in Meitei folklore|Meitei Hindus}}According to the 2011 census, 83.38% of Meiteis practice Hinduism, around 16% of Meiteis follow the traditional Sanamahi religion, about 8% follow IslamNEWS, 9 May 2023, Manipur violence: Who are Meiteis and Kukis? What are they fighting over,weblink Economic Times, 22 July 2023, 22 July 2023,weblink live, and are known as Meitei Pangals, and about 1.06% are Christians.WEB,weblink Meitei unspecified in India, Joshua Project, 20 September 2023, 24 June 2023,weblink live, Meiteis follow both Hinduism as well as Sanamahi religious traditions and rituals. For example, they worship Sanamahi in the south-west corners of their homes.WEB, 'Inclusion of Sanamahi religion in minority is being reviewed' : 27th aug11 ~ E-Pao! Headlines,weblink www.e-pao.net, 25 May 2020, 7 March 2021,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20210307055131weblink">weblink live,

Calendar

{{Further|Sanamahi creation myth}}The Meitei people follow a traditional calendar called Maliyafam Palcha Kumsing, which has 12 months and a 7-day week.WEB, Names of 12 months of Kangleipak concepts and significances,weblink e-pao.net, 25 May 2020, 24 September 2019,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20190924233119weblink">weblink live,

Cuisine

File:Yongchaak Singju with Hawai Maton.jpg|thumb|Singju is a signature dish of the Meitei cuisineMeitei cuisineRice, vegetables and fish are staple food of the Meiteis, although meat is also consumed but in traditional meitei dishes meat is never used in non-veg dishes. In traditional and cultural gatherings fish, snails, oysters, crabs, eels etc are the only non-veg used and a significant number of meiteis follow it where meat is cooked and eaten outside the house if consumed. Rice is the main carbohydrate source in a Meitei dish served with vegetables, fish, freshwater snails, crabs, oyesters, eels etc. Among the most famous species of fishes Manipuri Sareng (Wallago attu) or commonly known as Helicopter catfish, Hilsa (ilish Tenualosa ilisha), freshwater snails (pila (gastropod)) and edible oysters are considered a delicacy. The vegetables are either made as stews (Kangsoi) with less oil/no oil used in sauteing, or stir fried directly in oil with various added spices to make an oily spicy side dish (Kanghou). Roasted/Smoked and Sun-dried fish or fried fresh fish is usually added in most of the stews and curry to impart special taste. The vegetables, herbs and fruits consumed in the region are more similar to those in Southeast/East/Central Asian, Siberian, Arctic, Polynesian and Micronesian cuisines such as Myanmar, Thailand, Inuit, etc. E.g. treebean (yongchak), galangal (loklei), culantro (awa phadigom), lime basil (mayangton), fishwort (tokningkhok) and many others, which are not cultivated in northern India. One of the most important ingredients in Meitei cooking is Ngari (fermented fish). Roasted ngari is used in the singju (a kind of salad), morok metpa (chilli chutney), eromba (boiled and mashed veggies with chillies). A variety of fermented bamboo shoots (soibum) as well as fresh bamboo shoots (Ushoi/Shoidon), and fermented soya beans (hawaijaar) also form an important part of Meitei cuisines. All meals are served with some fresh aromatic herbs on the side.A typical every day Meitei meal will have rice, vegetable or fish curry, a piquant side dish (either morok metpa or eromba accompanied with herbs), a champhut (a steamed/boiled vegetable with little sugar, e.g., carrot, pumpkin or cucumber slices or steamed/boiled mustard green stems, etc without sugar), and a Kanghou. Meat cuisines are also popular amongst the Meiteis and some of the common meat curries are Yen Thongba (Chicken Curry) and Nganu Thongba (Duck Curry) and depending on regions Oak Thongba(Pork curry) and Shan Thongba(Beef curry).

Subsistence

The Meitei are mainly agriculturists in which rice is a staple crop. However, they also grow mangoes, lemons, pineapples, oranges, guavas, and other fruits. Fishing is also common among the Meitei that can either be a profession or a hobby. Women tend to dominate the local markets as sellers of food items, textiles, and traditional clothing.BOOK, Human: The Definitive Visual Guide, Dorling Kindersley, 2004, 0-7566-0520-2, Winston, Robert, New York, 441,

Notable people

Associations and organisations

{{Incomplete list|date=August 2023}}

Society-based

• Nikhil Manipuri Mahasabha

Language-based

• Manipuri Sahitya Parishad
• Naharol Sahitya Premee Samitee

Religion-based

• International Sanamahism Students' Association
• Lainingthou Sanamahi Sana Pung
• Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple Board
• South East Asia Cultural Organisation

See also

• Eromba
• Manipuri Brahmin
• List of Manipuri kings
• Meira Paibi
• Ningthouja dynasty
• Sajibu Nongma Panba

Notes

{{notelist}}

References

{{Reflist}}

Sources

• JOURNAL, Brandt, Carmen, 5 December 2017, Writing off domination: the Chakma and Meitei script movements,weblink South Asian History and Culture, 9, 116–140, en, 10.1080/19472498.2017.1411050, 148911026, 1947-2498,
• BOOK, Hazarika, Manjil,weblink Prehistory and Archaeology of Northeast India: Multidisciplinary Investigation in an Archaeological Terra Incognita, 2017, Oxford University Press, 10.1093/oso/9780199474660.001.0001, 978-0-19-947466-0, en,
• BOOK, Parratt, Saroj Nalini Arambam, The Court Chronicle of the Kings of Manipur: The Cheitharon Kumpapa : Original Text, Translation, and Notes, 2005, Routledge, 0-415-34430-1, London,
• THESIS, Sebastian, Rodney, Cultural Fusion in a Religious Dance Drama: Building the Sacred Body in the Manipuri RāslÄ«lās, 2019, University of Florida, {{ProQuest, 2464172212, }}

External links

{{Commons category}}{{Manipur}}{{Ethnic groups in Bangladesh}}{{Ethnic groups in Myanmar}}{{Authority control}}

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- time: 2:12pm EDT - Wed, May 15 2024