Vibrant Tapestry of Indian Culture: Exploring the Culture of Manipur

-By Ishika Mundhra

Manipur also known as “the bejeweled land” is one of hidden gem of northeast India. The state is home for over twenty-nine major tribes with the Meitei being the largest one. The state is famous for its unique traditions, customs, festivals, music, dances, culinary delights, arts and crafts.

The most distinctive feature of Manipuri culture is the dance forms. Some of these dance forms are Raas Lila, Thabal Chongba, Thang Ta, Nupa Pala, Pung Cholom, Maibi, and Khamba Thoibi. The Manipuri dance ‘Jagoi’ is one of the India’s major classical dance forms which portrays the love story of Lord Krishna and his lover Radha. The Pung Cholom is a type of drum dance where men and women does mid-air acrobatics and martial arts on the drums called “Pung”.

The state is also renowned for its rich musical heritage including folk and traditional music. The famous Manipuri folk music is Khullong Ishei which is a rural love song, Pena Ishei is performed by using traditional pena instruments made of bamboo and coconut or gourd shells, and Lai Haraoba Ishei which have veiled references to exotic mysticism. Manipuri music also has classical and traditional songs like devotional Nupi Pala which are mostly sung by women, Gaur Padas which are mostly praising Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Dhob songs using Jhal which is a large cymbal, Manohar Sai songs, and Khubakeshei songs which rely solely on clapping. Many instruments like pung, khol, mridang, khartal, esraj, flutes, pena, leirum pena, trombone and trumpets.

Manipuri culture has a diverse arts, crafts, and handlooms like handwoven textiles and embroideries like Manipuri Phulkari (shawls, sarongs, phaneks), traditional fabrics (Moirangphee and Leirum), Longpi pottery (black pottery), bamboo and cane crafts like Kauna (baskets, furniture, mats, weapons like spears), wood carving arts, silver jewellery, paintings, and doll making.

Manipur celebrates many festivals like Cheiraoba (the Manipuri New Year), Yaoshang festival, Lui Ngai Ni (the seed sowing festival), Kang (Rath) Yatra, Chavang Kut (Khodou), Gang-Ngai festival, Chumpha festival, Sangai festival, and Lai Haraoba to name few.

Traditional Manipuri dresses are Innaphi, Phanek, Mayek Naibi, Lai-Phi, and Chin-Phi for women and Pagri, Khamen Chatpa, and Phee for men.

Manipuri cuisine mostly consist rice as it is staple food of the state. Some of the dishes are Iromba, Eromba, Chak-hao Kheer, Singju, Sticky rice, Sana Thongba, Chamthong, Morok Metpa, and Rice Beer.