Meitei culture
The culture of Meitei civilization evolved over thousands of years, beginning in Ancient Manipur, continuing most notably into Medieval Manipur, while influencing the neighboring states and kingdoms.
Arts
Architecture
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.
Literature
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.[1]
Some of the most prominent Puyas, written in Meitei language (Manipuri language),[2] 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
Public holidays and festivals
Important days fall in different times of a year according to Meitei calendar. Some are as follows in alphabetical order:
- Cheiraoba 1st of Sajibu month
- Emoinu Eratpa 12th of Wakching month
- Heikru Hidongba 11th of Langban month
- Kwaak Taanba 10th of Mera month
- Mera Chaorel Houba 1st of Mera month
- Mera Hou Chongba 15th of Mera month
- Ningol Chakouba 2nd of Hiyangei month
- Panthoibi Iratpa
- Sanamahi Ahong Khong Chingba
- Yaoshang 15th of Lamtaa month, Full moon
Religion
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.[3]
Lai Haraoba
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.[4][5][6][7][8][9][10]
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
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)
Sports
Manipur, the Meitei kingdom, has risen to prominence in a number of sporting areas since ancient times till today. Polo, the equine sports played all over the world, is developed from Sagol Kangjei, the primitive form of the game. Ancient Manipur is the native birth place of the modern polo.[11]
Meitei Culture Media
Pakhangba Temple, Kangla, in the classical Meitei architecture, affiliated to the traditional Meitei religion (Sanamahism)
Kangla Sanathong]] for Kangla Golden Gate and the Kanglasha dragon lion, two of the most remarkable cultural heritages of the Meitei civilization
Khunu Leima, the Meitei goddess of doves and pigeons
"Te Te Tenawaa" (lit. "Te Te Parrot") - a traditional Meitei children's song of Kangleipak
Nganu Leima, the Meitei goddess of waterfowls
The architecture of the Inner Entrance Gate, along with the statues of a pair of Kanglashas, the dragon lions, inside the Kangla, the old metropolis of Ancient Kangleipak
The Marjing Polo Statue inside the Marjing Polo Complex in November, 2022
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References
- ↑ 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) - ↑ "The Manipuri Lais". Archived from the original on 2020-09-26. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "The Manipuri Lais". Archived from the original on 2020-09-26. 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.
- ↑ https://www.sportstract.com/guinness-book-of-world-records-1991-says-polo-can-be-traced-to-origins-in-manipur-state-c-3100-b-c-when-it-was-played-as-sagol-kangjei/amp/[dead link]