Meitei culture
The culture of Meitei civilization evolved over thousands of years, beginning in Ancient Kangleipak, continuing most notably into Medieval Kangleipak, while influencing the neighboring states and kingdoms, till present times.
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Animals and birds
[edit]Dogs are mentioned as friends or companions of human beings, in many ancient Meitei tales and texts. In many cases, when dogs died, they were given respect by performing elaborate death ceremonies, equal to that of human beings.[6]
Being wise is appreciated in Meitei sociaty, but cunning is treated with suspicion. If a person is very cunning, they may be pejoratively be called foxy.[7] Foxes appear in a number of Meitei folktales, including The Clever Fox (ꯂꯝꯍꯨꯢ ꯂꯧꯁꯤꯡ, Lamhui Loushing),[8] The Fox and the Jackal (ꯂꯝꯍꯨꯢ ꯑꯃꯁꯨꯡ ꯀꯩꯁꯥꯜ, Lamhui amashung Keishal),[9] and The Fox's Trick (ꯂꯝꯍꯨꯢ ꯒꯤ ꯇꯥꯠ, Lamhui gi Tat).[10]
Arts
[edit]Architecture
[edit]
The architectural works of the Meitei ethnicity is best known through its Meitei temples as well as ancient buildings including palaces, court halls, offices, entrance gates and so on.
Notable structures
[edit]Cinema
[edit]Martial arts
[edit]Music and dances
[edit]“Dance and music play a vital role in the life span of Manipuri people. The most flourishing branch of Manipuri culture is dance. The Manipuri synonym of dance is jagoi and in this dance, body movements create either circle or ellipse. Rasa dance is the finest product of Manipuri culture. Maharaj Bhagyachandra innovated it and it was first performed in Manipur in 1779 in the fullmoon of Kartik.”
Sculptures
[edit]Theatre
[edit]Notable productions
[edit]Notable personalities
[edit]Clothing
[edit]Constitutionalism
[edit]Cuisine
[edit]Education
[edit]Hills and mountains
[edit]
Many Chings (Meitei for 'hills and mountains') play significant role in different elements of Meitei culture, including but not limited to Meitei folklore, Meitei folktales, Meitei literature, Meitei mythology and Meitei religion (Sanamahism) of Kangleipak (Meitei for 'Manipur').
| Terms in Meitei language (officially called 'Manipuri') | Translation(s) | Notes/References |
|---|---|---|
| "Ching" (Meitei: ꯆꯤꯡ) | either a hill or a mountain | [12] |
| "Cingjāo" (Meitei: ꯆꯤꯡꯖꯥꯎ, lit. 'hill/mountain‑to be large') | a high mountain | [12] |
| "Cingdum" (Meitei: ꯆꯤꯡꯗꯨꯝ, lit. 'hill‑sth rounded') | a hillock; mound | [12] |
| "Cingsāng" (Meitei: ꯆꯤꯡꯁꯥꯡ, lit. 'hill/mountain‑to be long') | the range of a hill or mountain | [12] |
Heingang Ching
[edit]
In Meitei mythology and religion (Sanamahism), the Heingang Ching (Meitei: ꯍꯩꯉꯥꯡ ꯆꯤꯡ) is a sacred mountain and the home of God Marjing, the ancient Meitei deity of Sagol Kangjei (Meitei for 'polo'), Khong Kangjei (Meitei for 'hockey') and Meitei horse (Manipuri pony).[13][14]
The Government of Manipur developed Marjing Polo Statue, the world's tallest equestrian statue of a player of Sagol Kangjei (Meitei for 'polo game'), riding a Meitei horse (Manipuri pony),[15][13] standing inside the Marjing Polo Complex, the sacred sports site dedicated to God Marjing, which is on the hilltop of the Heingang Ching, being historically, mythologically and religiously associated with the game of polo (Meitei: Sagol Kangjei).[16][17] It is built to commemorate the game of "modern polo" being originated from Kangleipak (Meitei for 'Manipur').[18]
Koupalu Ching
[edit]The Koupalu Ching (Meitei: ꯀꯧꯄꯂꯨ ꯆꯤꯡ), also known as the Koubaru Ching (Meitei: ꯀꯧꯕꯔꯨ ꯆꯤꯡ) or the Koubru Ching (Meitei: ꯀꯧꯕ꯭ꯔꯨ ꯆꯤꯡ), in the Northwest of Kangleipak, is a sacred mountain and a divine abode of Koupalu (Koubru), the ancient Meitei deity, who protects the Northwest direction. Innumerable shrines and holy sites dedicated to Him are located in its mountainous realms, where Meitei people regularly visit and worship Him. Many ancient Meitei language texts including but not limited to the Chinglon Laihui, the Chinggoirol, the Chingsatlon, the Nunglon mentioned about the Koupalu Ching (Koubru Ching).[19]
Kounu Ching
[edit]The "Kounu Ching" (Meitei: ꯀꯧꯅꯨ ꯆꯤꯡ, lit. 'Mount Kounu'), located in the Senapati district of Manipur, is a sacred mountain as well as a divine abode of ancient Meitei goddess Kounu, the consort of God Koupalu (Koubru). Numerous shrines and sacred sites dedicated to her are found scattered across the mountain. Meitei people regularly visit and worship her in her holy sanctuaries.[20]
Langkol Ching
[edit]The Langgol Chinggoiba is an ancient Meitei language text which is a description for the Langkol Ching (Meitei: ꯂꯥꯡꯀꯣꯜ ꯆꯤꯡ), also called the Langgol Ching (Meitei: ꯂꯥꯡꯒꯣꯜ ꯆꯤꯡ), a hill situated in the north of Imphal. According to the text, the Langkol Ching is the first perfect creation of seven goddesses and eighteen gods.[21]
When Panthoibi, the Meitei princess, was sporting with her paramour Nongpok Ningthou, she reminded him of the crack of dawn and of the fear of them being seen by her mother-in-law Manu Tekngā. Henceforth the slope has been known as Chingnung Shoy.
And this is the place where Nungpan Choupri maintained his kiddle for which he laid a wooden beam across the stream and erected strong reeds densely beneath it to block the passage of fishes. He handed over regularly to his wife those caught in daytime. But for some successive nights no fish could be found in the trap for which his wife developed suspicion of his having illicit relation with another woman. He sincerely pleaded that some evil spirits might have gobbled them up during the night. The fisherman invoked the god of the sky to save him from this predicament. Blessed as he was, he kept a night-long vigil on the top of a tree and could dispel with his sharp sword a rabble of goblins who clambered up to devour him. Therefore the place took the name of Laihat Shoy and also Aham Shoy as the fisherman returned home with an empty creel.
Nongmaiching Ching
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Nongmaiching Chingkoipa
[edit]The Nongmaijing Chinggoiba (also called, "Nongmaijing Chinggoiba") is an ancient Meitei language text. It describes the sprawling branches of the Nongmaiching mountain (Meitei: ꯅꯣꯡꯃꯥꯏꯆꯤꯡ ꯆꯤꯡ), which extends from the North to the South of the Imphal Valley of Kangleipak.[24] The opening lines of the text describes the Nongmaiching to a king as follows:
O King, the mountain situated in the east and beyond the river is the abode of Kainou Chingsomba, lord of the Langmais. They attain majestic heights, are washed by seven streams, project into nine ranges and abound with deep gorges and sun-drenched ridges... They catch first the sight of every onlooker and stand steadfast unshaken by great earthquakes as if held by strong iron pegs and with their peaks kissed by white flakes of cloud. Their slopes are smoothly carpeted green with pennyworts under the shadow of tall and robust plants of cane and they are also dotted with dense growth of tall reeds. And the gorges reverberate against the strong current of wind. Of these mountain ranges the bard would like to sing.
— Nongmaiching Chingkoipa (Nongmaijing Chinggoiba)[24]
Following these lines, the author describes on many cliffs, slopes and its peripheral areas of the Nongmaiching mountain.[24]
Panthoibi Naheirol
[edit]The "Panthoibi Naheirol" (Meitei: ꯄꯥꯟꯊꯣꯏꯕꯤ ꯅꯥꯍꯩꯔꯣꯜ, romanized: pānthoibī nāheirōl) is an ancient Meitei language text. According to it, ancient Meitei goddess Panthoibi pretended to be unwell in front of her mother, just to make her mother call physician Nongpok Ningthou (her secret paramour) for the treatment of her fake illness.[25] While telling her mother about Nongpok Ningthou, princess Panthoibi mentioned the Nongmaiching (aka Langmai Ching) as follows:
As I told you there is one who is reigning supreme in the Langmai Hills on whose slope the sun shines first.
Meitei people
[edit]Language
[edit]Language related events
[edit]Observances
[edit]Linguistic movements
[edit]Literature
[edit]Meitei literature dates back right from the 15th century BC, during the era of Tangcha Lee La Pakhangpa (Tangja Leela Pakhangba) (1445 BC-1405 BC) in Ancient Manipur. The Puya (Meitei texts) account for most of the accounts for the literary works till Medieval Manipur.[26]
Some of the most prominent Puyas, written in Meitei language (Manipuri language),[27] are given below in alphabetical order:
- Chada Laihui
- Chainarol
- Chothe Thangwai Pakhangba
- Hijan Hirao (Hichan Hilao)
- Khongjomnubi Nongarol
- Khuman Kangleirol
- Khumanlon
- Konthoujam Nongarol
- Leishemlon
- Leithak Leikharol
- Moirang Ningthourol Lambuba
- Ningthourol Lambuba
- Nongban Pombi Luwaoba
- Numit Kappa
- Panthoibi Khongul
- Phouoibi Waron
- Poireiton Khunthok
- Sakok Lamlen
- Sanamahi Laihui
- Tharon (Thalon)
- Toreirol Lambuba
- Tutenglon
- Wakoklon Heelel Thilen Salai Amailon Pukok Puya
Mythology and folklore
[edit]Literary awards
[edit]Philosophy
[edit]Plants
[edit]Public holidays and festivals
[edit]Important days fall in different times of a year according to Meitei calendar. Some are as follows in alphabetical order:
- Cheiraoba (ꯆꯩꯔꯥꯎꯕ)- 1st of Sajibu month
- Emoinu Eratpa (ꯏꯃꯣꯢꯅꯨ ꯏꯔꯥꯠꯄ)- 12th of Wakching month
- Heikru Hidongba (ꯍꯩꯀ꯭ꯔꯨ ꯍꯤꯗꯣꯡꯕ)- 11th of Langban month
- Kwaak Taanba (ꯀ꯭ꯋꯥꯛ ꯇꯥꯟꯕ)- 10th of Mera month
- Mera Chaorel Houba (ꯃꯦꯔꯥ ꯆꯥꯎꯔꯦꯜ ꯍꯧꯕ)- 1st of Mera month
- Mera Hou Chongba (ꯃꯦꯔꯥ ꯍꯧ ꯆꯣꯡꯕ)- 15th of Mera month
- Ningol Chakouba (ꯅꯤꯉꯣꯜ ꯆꯥꯛꯀꯧꯕ)- 2nd of Hiyangei month
- Panthoibi Iratpa (ꯄꯥꯟꯊꯣꯢꯕꯤ ꯏꯔꯥꯠꯄ)
- Sanamahi Ahong Khong Chingba (ꯁꯅꯥꯃꯍꯤ ꯑꯍꯣꯡ ꯈꯣꯡ ꯆꯤꯡꯕ)-
- Yaoshang (ꯌꯥꯎꯁꯪ) -15th of Lamtaa month, Full moon
Religion
[edit]
Sanamahism, the Meitei religion, has thousands of Meitei deities.The List of figures in Meitei mythology accounts for the characters in Meitei mythology, the receptacle of the Meitei religion.
Lai Haraoba
[edit]The "Lai Haraoba" festival is an ancient ritualistic music and dance festival, often performed in order to please the Umang Lais and the Lam Lais, whose pantheons are found scattered in the plains of Manipur still today.[28][29][30][31][32][33]
Jagoi, originally spelled as Chatkoi, is the traditional form of dancing, performed by the devotees to please the deities. Here is a list of the "Chatkoi"s ("Jagoi"s) :
C
K
L
M
P
T
Death ceremony
[edit]The Meitei people perform four types of death ceremony since time immemorial. These are:
- Air ceremony (Disposal to the space)
- Earth ceremony (Burial)
- Fire ceremony (Burning)
- Water ceremony (Disposal to the water bodies)
Relationship with nature
[edit]In Meitei mythology and Meitei folklore of Manipur, deforestation is mentioned as one of the reasons to make mother nature (most probably goddess Leimarel Sidabi) weep and mourn for the death of her precious children. In an ancient Meitei language narrative poem named the "Hijan Hirao" (Old Manipuri: "Hichan Hilao"), it is mentioned that King Hongnem Luwang Ningthou Punsiba of Luwang dynasty once ordered his men for the cutting down of woods in the forest for crafting out a beautiful royal Hiyang Hiren. His servants spotted on a gigantic tree growing on the slope of a mountain and by the side of a river. They performed traditional customary rites and rituals before chopping off the woods on the next day. In the middle of the night, Mother nature started weeping in the fear of losing her child, the tree.[34][35][36] Her agony is described as follows:
At dead of night
The mother who begot the tree
And the mother of all giant trees,
The queen of the hill-range
And the mistress of the gorges
Took the tall and graceful tree
To her bosom and wailed:
"O my son, tall and big,
While yet an infant, a sapling
Didn't I tell you
To be an ordinary tree?
The king's men have found you out
And bought your life with gold and silver.
* * At daybreak, hacked at the trunk
You will be found lying prostrate.
No longer will you respond To your mother's call
Nor a likeness of you
Shall be found, when I survey
The whole hillside.
Who shall now relieve my grief?"
Sports
[edit]Women
[edit]Writing systems
[edit]See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Two new postage stamps celebrate Armenian, Indian national dances". panarmenian.net.
- ^ "Two new postage stamps dedicated to "Armenia-India joint issue. National dances" theme | Lragir".
- ^ "Two new postage stamps celebrate Armenian, Indian national dances". www.newsinfo.am.
- ^ Sarwal, Amit (2022-05-15). The Celestial Dancers: Manipuri Dance on Australian Stage. Routledge. p. 25. ISBN 978-1-000-62550-9.
- ^ "Dance | Ministry of Culture, Government of India". www.indiaculture.gov.in. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
- ^ Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature (in English and Manipuri). Sahitya Akademi. p. 201. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.
- ^ "Lumhui Lousing The Clever Fox". EP. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
- ^ "The Fox Wit Lamhui Lousing". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
- ^ "Lamhui amashung Keishal The Fox and the Jackal Folktale". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
- ^ "The Fox Trick Lamhui gi tat". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
- ^ "Manipuri, The - Banglapedia". en.banglapedia.org. Bangladesh: Banglapedia. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
... Dance and music play a vital role in the life span of Manipuri people. The most flourishing branch of Manipuri culture is dance. The Manipuri synonym of dance is jagoi and in this dance, body movements create either circle or ellipse. Rasa dance is the finest product of Manipuri culture. Maharaj Bhagyachandra innovated it and it was first performed in Manipur in 1779 in the fullmoon of Kartik. ...
- ^ a b c d Sharma, H. Surmangol (2006). "Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary". dsal.uchicago.edu (in Manipuri and English). University of Chicago. pp. 67, 68. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
- ^ a b "World's tallest polo statue to be constructed in Mnp". Nagaland Post.
- ^ "Polo team launched, field inaugurated: 14th jan16 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". www.e-pao.net.
- ^ "Manipur: Amit Shah will unveil the tallest statue of the polo player, will hoist the tricolor at the historic site - News8Plus-Realtime Updates On Breaking News & Headlines". 2023-01-06.
- ^ "Chief Minister Biren inaugurates Marjing Polo Complex; says Polo ground will also be constructed at the hillock shortly". Impact TV.
- ^ "Manipur CM N Biren Singh inaugurates Marjing Polo Complex in Imphal". Northeast Now. 2018-03-25.
- ^ –"Manipur: Union Home Minister Amit Shah Unveils 122-feet-tall Polo Statue In Imphal". Ukhrul Times. 2023-01-06.
–"120 feet Polo Statue to be Build [sic] in Manipur, the Birthplace of the Sport". News18. 2022-07-05.
–"Construction Of Much-Awaited 120-Ft-Tall Effigy Of 'Sagol Kangjei' Completed; Upholds Historical Significance Of Polo Sport". Northeast Today. 2022-11-17.
–"Amit Shah inaugurates 122 feet tall Marjing Polo Statue". Signpost News. 2023-01-06.
–"Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurates 122-feet Marjing Polo Statue in Manipur". Imphal Free Press. - ^ Laiba, Mangancha Thoudam (2021-01-30). "The Beautiful Legends and Myths of the Meeteis About Sacred Koubru Chinggoirol". Imphal Review of Arts and Politics. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
- ^ "While passing Mount Kounu, a sacred place of Kounu Lairembi". Kangla Online. 11 February 2017. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
- ^ a b Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature (in English and Manipuri). Sahitya Akademi. p. 103. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.
- ^ Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature (in English and Manipuri). Sahitya Akademi. pp. 103, 104. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.
- ^ "Sanamahi Kiyong Donation: 15th dec08 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net.
THE DONATIONS for the construction of Sanamahi Kiyong, which will be the central body of Sanamahi Lainingkol (University of Sanamahi Culture) at Chingoi Maru Langmaiching (Nongmaiching) is going on.
- ^ a b c Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature (in English and Manipuri). Sahitya Akademi. p. 102. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.
- ^ a b Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature (in English and Manipuri). Sahitya Akademi. p. 61. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.
- ^ Kriti Rakshana: A Bi-monthly Publication of the National Mission for Manuscripts. National Mission for Manuscripts. 2006. Archived from the original on 2022-05-08. Retrieved 2022-04-22.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2021-05-13. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "D'source Umanglai - Sacred grove of Manipur | Sacred Groves | D'Source Digital Online Learning Environment for Design: Courses, Resources, Case Studies, Galleries, V..." 23 September 2015. Archived from the original on 2020-01-29. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
- ^ "Sacred groves Manipur need urgent attention". Archived from the original on 2019-08-10. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
- ^ "Sacred Groves in Manipur". Archived from the original on 2020-01-25. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
- ^ Banerji, Projesh (1956). Dance of India. Kitabistan. Archived from the original on 2022-05-08. Retrieved 2022-04-22.
- ^ Playne, Somerset (1917). Bengal and Assam, Behar and Orissa: Their History, People, Commerce, and Industrial Resources. Foreign and Colonial Compiling and Publishing Company. Archived from the original on 2022-05-08. Retrieved 2022-04-22.
- ^ Sarat Chandra Roy (Rai Bahadur (1981). Man in India. A.K. Bose. Archived from the original on 2022-05-08. Retrieved 2022-04-22.
- ^ Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature (in English and Manipuri). Sahitya Akademi. pp. 16, 17. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.
- ^ Datta, Bīrendranātha; Śarmā, Nabīnacandra (1994). A Handbook of Folklore Material of North-East India. India: Anundoram Borooah Institute of Language, Art & Culture, Assam. p. 356.
- ^ Barua, Lalit Kumar (1999). Oral Tradition and Folk Heritage of North East India. India: Spectrum Publications. p. 71. ISBN 978-81-87502-02-9.
- ^ Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature (in English and Manipuri). Sahitya Akademi. pp. 16, 17. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.
- ^ Datta, Bīrendranātha; Śarmā, Nabīnacandra (1994). A Handbook of Folklore Material of North-East India. India: Anundoram Borooah Institute of Language, Art & Culture, Assam. p. 356.
- ^ Barua, Lalit Kumar (1999). Oral Tradition and Folk Heritage of North East India. India: Spectrum Publications. p. 71. ISBN 978-81-87502-02-9.
External links
[edit]
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