56-641: Yaosang is a festival celebrated in Manipur for five days in spring, starting on the full moon day of the month of Lamda (February–March). Yaosang is indigenous traditions of the Meitei people . It is considered the most important festival in Manipur. But unlike Holi, the celebrations go far beyond just colours. Yaosang begins just after sunset in every village with the Yaosang Mei thaba , or Burning of
112-498: A constitutional republic . Proposals for reorganisation were also made for Manipur but discarded as being unsuitable. Eventually Manipur was turned into a centrally administered province (called a 'Part C' state, later renamed union territory ) by asking the Maharaja to sign a merger agreement. He is believed to have signed it under duress. The legislative assembly was dissolved and a centrally appointed Chief Commissioner handled
168-541: A population of 2,855,794 at the 2011 census. Of this total, 57.2% lived in the valley districts and the remaining 42.8% in the hill districts. The valley (plain) is mainly inhabited by the Meitei speaking population (native Manipuri speakers). The hills are inhabited mainly by several ethno-linguistically diverse tribes belonging to the Nagas , the Kukis and smaller tribal groupings. Naga and Kuki settlements are also found in
224-1039: A violent attack on a local woman. The rape of a Manipuri woman, Thangjam Manorama Devi , by members of the Assam Rifles paramilitary had led to wide protests including a nude protest by the Meira Paibi women's association. In May 2023, an ethnic clash between Meitei people and Kuki people led to extensive violence and arson, resulting in 60,000 people displaced from their homes and hundreds more dead and hospitalized. According to data released by Manipur Police , as on September 15, 2023; 175 people have been killed; 1,118 people were injured, and 33 people were missing. 96 bodies remained unclaimed. 5,172 cases of arson including destruction of 4,786 houses and 386 religious places, out of which there were 254 churches and 132 temples, were reported since May. Out of 5,668 arms lost; 1,329 arms, 15,050 ammunition and 400 bombs were recovered. Indian army troops were deployed to control
280-458: Is Thabal Chongba (Dancing in the Moonlight). Males from various places will come to the site of the festival and dance in circles with the females, holding their hands. In 2016, this occurred 23–24 March. The locals also engage in feasting to celebrate this festival of merrymaking. Of late, there has been a trend of channelling the festive energy toward sporting events to spot out talents at
336-521: Is a scheduled language in the Republic of India, and serves as the lingua franca in Manipur. Other than Meitei language, in Manipur, there is a huge amount of linguistic diversity, as is the case in most of the Northeast India. Almost all of the languages are Sino-Tibetan , with many different subgroups represented. There are multiple Kuki-Chin languages , the largest being Thadou and
392-696: Is a staple food for Manipuris. Manipur's climate is largely influenced by the topography of the region. Lying 790 metres above sea level, Manipur is wedged among hills on all sides. This northeastern corner of India enjoys a generally amiable climate, though the winters can be chilly. The maximum temperature in the summer months is 32 °C (90 °F). The coldest month is January, and the warmest July. The state receives an average annual rainfall of 1,467.5 mm (57.78 in) between April and mid-October. Precipitation ranges from light drizzle to heavy downpour. The capital city Imphal receives an annual average of 933 mm (36.7 in). Rainfall in this region
448-553: Is also used as a lingua franca by smaller communities, who speak a variety of other Tibeto-Burman languages . Manipur has been at the crossroads of Asian economic and cultural exchange for more than 2,500 years. This exchange connects the Indian subcontinent and Central Asia to Southeast Asia , East Asia , Siberia , regions in the Arctic , Micronesia and Polynesia enabling migration of people, cultures and religions. During
504-519: Is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west. It also borders two regions of Myanmar , Sagaing Region to the east and Chin State to the south. The state covers an area of 22,327 km (8,621 sq mi). The official and most widely spoken language is the Meitei language (officially known as Manipuri). Native to the Meitei people , it
560-571: Is caused by The South Westerly Monsoon picking up moisture from the Bay of Bengal and heading towards the Eastern Himalaya ranges. This normal rainfall pattern of Manipur enriches the soil and much of the agrarian activities are dependent on it as well. Manipur is already experiencing climate change , especially changes in weather , with both increased variability in rain as well as increasingly severe changes in temperature. Manipur had
616-639: Is home to many sports and the origin of Manipuri dance , and is credited with introducing polo to Europeans. The name Manipur ( Sanskrit : मणिपुर , romanized : maṇipura , lit. ''city of jewels'') was chosen by Gharib Nawaz , a convert to Hinduism, in the eighteenth century. It is named after a kingdom of the same name mentioned in the Hindu epic Mahabharata. Previously, it had been known as Kangleipak ( Meitei : ꯀꯪꯂꯩꯄꯛ , romanized: Kangleipak ) or Meitei : ꯃꯩꯇꯩꯂꯩꯕꯥꯛ , Meiteileipak , transl: land of
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#1732783385468672-481: Is spoken in all the hill districts. Another major language family is the Naga languages , like Tangkhul , Poula , Rongmei and Mao . Less than 5% speak Indo-European languages, mostly Nepali and Sylheti (also considered as a dialect of Bengali ), which is the major language of Jiribam district . The Directorate of Language Planning and Implementation (AKA Department of Language Planning and Implementation ) of
728-544: Is the indigenous, polytheistic and animistic ethnic religion of the Meitei people. Sanamahist worship concentrates on the household deity Lainingthou Sanamahi . The ancient Meiteis worshiped a Supreme deity, Salailen, and followed their ancestors. Their ancestor worship and animism was based on Umang Lai – ethnic governing deities worshiped in the sacred groves . Some of the traditional Meitei deities , or Lais are Atiya Sidaba, Pakhangba , Sanamahi , and Panthoibi . Out of
784-482: The Government of Manipur works for the development and the promotion of Meitei language and other local vernaculars of Manipur. Religion in Manipur (2011) Hinduism and Christianity are the major religions practiced in Manipur. Between the 1961 and 2011 censuses of India, the share of Hindus in the state declined from 62% to 41%, while the share of Christians rose from 19% to 41%. The religious groups of
840-696: The Loiyumba Shinyen . and is still heard in the official song of Manipur, " Sana Leibak Manipur ". The history of Manipur Meiteis is chronicled in Puyas or Puwaris (stories about the forefathers), namely, the Ninghthou Kangbalon, Cheitharol Kumbaba, Ningthourol Lambuba, Poireiton Khunthokpa, Panthoibi Khongkul, and so forth in the Meitei script , which is comparable to the Thai script . The historical accounts presented here were recordings from
896-647: The North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971 . Manipur has a long record of insurgency and inter-ethnic violence. Its first armed opposition group, the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), was founded in 1964 aiming to achieve independence from India and establish Manipur as a new country. Over time, many more groups formed, each with different goals, and deriving support from diverse ethnic groups in Manipur. The People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK)
952-523: The Toungoo empire . In the 18th century, Bodawpaya , the king of Burma acquired the Manipur (1814) along with the western kingdoms of Arakan (1784), Assam (1817). By the medieval period, marriage alliances between the royal families of Manipur, Ahom kingdom and Burma had become common. Medieval era manuscripts discovered in the 20th century, particularly the Puya , provide evidence that Hindus from
1008-465: The 2011 census data. Vaishnavite Hinduism was the state religion of the Kingdom of Manipur . In 1704, Meitei King Charairongba accepted Vaishnavism and changed his traditional Meitei name into Hindu name, Pitambar Singh. However, the first Hindu temples were constructed much earlier. A copper plate excavated from Phayeng dating back to 763 CE (believed to be of the reign of Meitei King Khongtekcha)
1064-473: The 233,767 people who opted for the "Other religion" option, 222,315 were Sanamahists. The various other religions were mostly followers of tribal folk religions, 6,444 were Heraka , 2,032 were Jewish and 1,180 were from other tribal religions such as Tingkao Ragwang Chapriak. The government of Manipur is a collective assembly of 60 elected members, of which 19 are reserved for Scheduled Tribes and 1 for Scheduled Castes. The state sends two representatives to
1120-669: The Indian government referred to Manipur as a disturbed area. This term (designated by the Ministry of Home Affairs or a state governor ) refers to a territory where extraordinary laws under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act can be used. The laws allow the military to treat private and public spaces in the same manner, detain individuals for up to 24 hours with unlimited renewals, perform warrantless searches, and to shoot and kill individuals who break laws, carry weapons, or gather in groups larger than four. Legal immunity applies to
1176-438: The Indian subcontinent had married Manipur royalty by at least the 14th century. In centuries thereafter, royal spouses came also from what is now Assam, Bengal , and Uttar Pradesh and from other South Indian kingdoms as well. Another manuscript suggests that Muslims arrived in Manipur in the 17th century, from what is now Bangladesh , during the reign of Meidingu Khagemba . The socio-political turmoil and wars, particularly
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#17327833854681232-729: The Japanese in East Asia. After the war, the Maharaja took the advice of the British Cabinet Mission and the Chamber of Princes to introduce democratic reforms in the state. The Manipur State Constitution Act of 1947 was promulgated in July 1947 to give the state an elected legislative assembly and an appointed prime minister. Elections to the assembly were held only in the following year. Meanwhile, British India
1288-668: The Lok Sabha of the Parliament of India . The state sends one representative to the Rajya Sabha. The legislature of the state is Unicameral. Representatives are elected for a five-year term to the state assembly and the Indian parliament through voting, a process overseen by the offices of the Election Commission of India. Manipur State Constitution Act 1947 Too Many Requests If you report this error to
1344-480: The Meitei-speaking people include Hindus , Sanamahists , Meitei Christians and Meitei Pangals . Besides these, the non Meitei-speaking communities (tribals) are mostly Christians. The Meitei ethnicity (aka Manipuri people ) is the majority group following Hinduism in Manipur, beside other minor immigrants following the same faith in the state. Among the indigenous communities of Manipur, Meiteis are
1400-510: The Meiteis, Later, the work Dharani Samhita (1825–34) popularised the Sanskrit legends of the origin of Manipur's name. Other names include Sanaleibak ( Meitei : ꯁꯅꯥꯂꯩꯕꯥꯛ , transl: the land of gold, golden land), not given because Manipur has a lot of the gold mines, but because of its happiness and prosperity. This name was mentioned in the 11th-12th century constitution,
1456-598: The Straw Hut on the night of the fullmoon of Manipuri month of Lamta. Then the children ask at every house for monetary donations, called nakatheng . On the second day, groups of local bands perform sankirtan in the Govindagee Temple in the Imphal-East district of Manipur. On the second and third days, girls go to their relatives for their nakatheng and block roads with ropes for collecting money. On
1512-570: The days of the British Raj , Manipur was one of the princely states . On 11 August 1947, Maharaja Bodhachandra Singh signed an Instrument of Accession , argued by many that the king was in no legal position to sign the instrument of accession at the time, under the agreement Bodhachandra Singh accede to the Indian Union . Later, on 21 September 1949, he signed a Merger Agreement, disputed as having been done without consultation of
1568-543: The eastern part of the state, the Yu River Basin, include the Chamu, Khunou and other short streams. Manipur may be characterised as two distinct physical regions: an outlying area of rugged hills and narrow valleys, and the inner area of flat plain, with all associated landforms. These two areas are distinct in physical features and are conspicuous in flora and fauna. The valley region has hills and mounds rising above
1624-519: The eyes and the judgment of Meitei kings and Maichou [ simple ] (Meitei scholars). According to the Tai chronicles, Manipur (Kahse) is one of the territories conquered by Samlongpha (1150–1201), the first Chao Pha of Mongkawng . A 14th-century inscription from Pagan , Myanmar , mentions Kasan (Manipur) as one of the 21 states under the Mong Mao ruler Thonganbwa (1413–1445/6); he later
1680-492: The flat surface. The Loktak Lake is an important feature of the central plain. The total area occupied by all the lakes is about 600 km . The altitude ranges from 40 m at Jiribam to 2,994 m at Mount Tempü peak along the border with Nagaland. The soil cover can be divided into two broad types, viz. the red ferruginous soil in the hill area and the alluvium in the valley. The valley soils generally contain loam, small rock fragments, sand, and sandy clay, and are varied. On
1736-462: The fourth and fifth days, people pour or splash water on one another. A number of sport events like tug of war and soccer are also organised on this occasion. Apart from this, the local delicacies are also shared with the neighbours during the festival. Some recent trends during the festival of Yaoshang are music concerts, DJ and other forms of entertainment at open spaces. Local bands performs during such concerts. Another feature of this festival
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1792-429: The grassroot level, which is in line with the rich sporting spirit of the Meiteis. This article related to an Indian festival or holiday is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Manipur Manipur ( / ˌ m ʌ n ɪ ˈ p ʊər / , US also / ˌ m æ n ɪ ˈ p ʊər / ; Meitei : Kangleipak ) is a state in northeast India , with the city of Imphal as its capital. It
1848-728: The largest of Manipur, originates in the Manipur Hills and is joined by tributaries, such as the Irang, Maku, and Tuivai . After its junction with the Tuivai, the Barak River turns north, forms the border with Assam State , and then enters the Cachar Assam just above Lakhipur . The Manipur river basin has eight major rivers: the Manipur , Imphal , Iril , Nambul, Sekmai, Chakpi, Thoubal and Khuga. All these rivers originate from
1904-421: The major religions of the state. Between the 1961 and 2011 censuses of India, the share of Hindus in the state declined from 62% to 41%, while the share of Christians rose from 19% to 41%. Manipur has primarily an agrarian economy, with significant hydroelectric power generation potential. It is connected to other areas by daily flights through Imphal Airport , the second largest in northeastern India. Manipur
1960-470: The major tribe conglomerates of tribes inhabiting the surrounding hills. The Kuki-Zos consist of several tribes including Gangte , Hmar , Paite , Simte , Sukte , Thadou , Vaiphei , Zou , and some smaller tribes. They speak Kuki-Chin languages and predominate the southern hill districts of Manipur. The prominent Naga tribes are Angami , Kabui , Kacha Naga , Mao , Maram , Poumai , Sema and Tangkhul , each speaking its own language. They predominate
2016-425: The military. Since 1980, the application of AFSPA has been at the heart of concerns about human rights violations in the region, such as arbitrary killings, torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment , and forced disappearances . Its continued application has led to numerous protests, notably the longstanding hunger strike by Irom Sharmila Chanu . In 2004, the government lifted the disturbed status after
2072-515: The northern hill districts of Manipur. In addition, several smaller tribes that were classified as "Old Kuki" by the British administrators populate Chandel and neighbouring districts. Some of them now classify themselves as Nagas while others retain the Kuki classification. of Total Pop. Languages in Manipur (2011) The official language of the state is Meitei (also known as Manipuri ). It
2128-574: The only Hindus as no other indigenous ethnic groups follow this faith. According to the 2011 Census of India , about 41.39% of the Manipuri people practice Hinduism . The Hindu population is heavily concentrated in the Meitei dominant areas of the Manipur Valley ( Imphal Valley ), among the Meitei people. The districts of Bishnupur, Thoubal, Imphal East, and Imphal West all have Hindu majorities, averaging 67.62% (range 62.27–74.81%) according to
2184-483: The persistent and devastating Anglo-Burmese wars , affected the cultural and religious demography of Manipur. In 1824, the ruler of Manipur entered into a subsidiary alliance with the British Empire in the Indian subcontinent, which became responsible for Manipur's external defence. The British recognised that the state remained internally self-governing, as a princely state . During World War II , Manipur
2240-400: The plains, especially flood plains and deltas, the soil is quite thick. The topsoil on the steep slopes is very thin. Soil on the steep hill slopes is subject to high erosion, resulting in gullies and barren rock slopes. The normal pH value ranges from 5.4 to 6.8. Natural vegetation occupies an area of about 17,418 km (6,725 sq mi), or 77.2% of the total geographical area of
2296-415: The popular ministry under Manipur State Constitution Act 1947 and denial of the king's request to return to Manipur to discuss the same with his people. Under 'duress' and 'coercion' Bodhachandra Singh signed the merger agreement merging the kingdom into India, which led to its becoming a Part C State . Followed by contestation of the merger by groups in Manipur, resulting in a 50-year insurgency in
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2352-539: The situation. International outrage resulted from a report that two Kuki women had been paraded naked and allegedly gang-raped by a mob of Meitei men. The state lies at a latitude of 23°83'N – 25°68'N and a longitude of 93°03'E – 94°78'E. The total area covered by the state is 22,327 km (8,621 sq mi). The capital lies in an oval-shaped valley of approximately 700 sq mi (2,000 km ), surrounded by blue mountains, at an elevation of 790 m (2,590 ft) above sea level. The slope of
2408-406: The state for independence from India. From 2009 through 2018, the conflict was responsible for the violent deaths of over 1000 people. The Meitei people represent around 53% of the population of Manipur state, followed by various Naga tribes at 20% and Kuki-Zo tribes at 16%. Manipur's ethnic groups practice a variety of religions. According to 2011 census, Hinduism and Christianity are
2464-538: The state's administration, as per the Constitution of India. An advisory council with nominated members was provided to advise the Chief Commissioner. In 1956, the advisory council was replaced by a territorial council with mostly elected members. In 1963, Manipur was provided a legislative assembly, with a council of ministers headed by a chief minister. It was made a fully-fledged state in 1972 by
2520-728: The state, and consists of short and tall grasses, reeds and bamboos , and trees. About a third of Manipur's forests are protected: 8.42% of the forested land is categorized under Reserved Forests, and 23.95% under Protected Forests. There are six major types of forests in Manipur, and 10 subtypes. The six major forest types, according to the state's Forest Department, include Tropical Wet Evergreen Forest, Tropical Moist Deciduous Forests, Sub-Tropical Pine Forest, Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest, Montane Wet Temperate Forest and Sub-alpine Forest. There are forests of teak , pine , oak , uningthou , leihao, bamboo, and cane . Rubber , tea , coffee , orange , and cardamom are grown in hill areas. Rice
2576-560: The surrounding hills. Almost all the rivers in the valley area are in the mature stage and therefore deposit their sediment load in the Loktak Lake . The rivers draining the Manipur Hills are comparatively young, due to the hilly terrain through which they flow. These rivers are corrosive and become turbulent in the rainy season. Important rivers draining the western area include the Maku, Barak , Jiri, Irang, and Leimatak. Rivers draining
2632-509: The valley is from north to south. The mountain ranges create a moderate climate, preventing the cold winds from the north from reaching the valley and barring cyclonic storms. The state is bordered by the Indian states of Nagaland to its north, Mizoram to its south, Assam to its west, and shares an international border with Myanmar to its east. The state has four major river basins: the Barak River Basin ( Barak Valley ) to
2688-541: The valley region, though less in numbers. There are also sizable population of Nepalis, Bengalis, Tamils and Marwaris living in Manipur. The distribution of area, population and density, and literacy rate as per the 2001 Census provisional figures are as below: The Meiteis (synonymous to the Manipuris ) constitute the majority of the state's population. They inhabit the Imphal Valley . Nagas and Kuki-Zo are
2744-607: The vast majority (over 96%) of the Christian population in Manipur. The Meitei Pangals ( Meitei : ꯃꯩꯇꯩ ꯄꯥꯡꯒꯜ ), also known as Meitei Muslims or Manipuri Muslims, are the third largest religious majority group in the state, comprising about 8.3% of the state population. They belong to the Sunni group of the Hanafi school of Islamic thought and they include Arabs, Bangladeshis, Turanis, Bengalis and Chaghtai Turks. Sanamahism
2800-616: The west, the Manipur River Basin in central Manipur, the Yu River Basin in the east, and a portion of the Lanye River Basin in the north. The water resources of Barak and Manipur river basins are about 1.8487 Mham (million hectare metres). The overall water balance of the state amounts to 0.7236 Mham in the annual water budget. (By comparison, India receives 400 Mham of rain annually. ) The Barak River,
2856-478: Was partitioned into the independent dominions of India and Pakistan , and all the princely states were advised to "accede" to one of the dominions to take over the management of their external affairs and defence. The Maharaja acceded to India on 11 August 1947 and signed a standstill agreement to continue the existing arrangements. Over the next two years, the multitude of princely states of India were extensively reorganised as India moved towards becoming
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#17327833854682912-522: Was captured by the Governor of Taungdwingyi . Bayinnaung , the ruler of Toungoo dynasty ordered the invasion of Manipur in 1559. He had recalled Binnya Dala from Chiang Mai to lead the invasion. The three armies mostly made up of army from Kale , Mohnyin , Mogaung , Momeik and Sanda led the invasion, the King of Manipur surrendered without any resistance and Manipur became a vassal state of
2968-629: Was formed in 1977, and the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in 1978, suspected by Human Rights Watch of receiving arms and training from China. In 1980, the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) was formed. These groups began a spree of bank robberies and attacks on police officers and government buildings. The state government appealed to the central government in New Delhi for support in combating this violence. From 1980 to 2004,
3024-587: Was found to contain inscriptions about the Hindu deities in Sanskrit words. During the 13th century, Meitei King Khumomba constructed a Lord Hanuman temple. The Vishnu temple at Lamangdong was constructed during 1474 CE (during the reign of Meitei King Kiyamba ), by Brahmins immigrating from the neighborhood Shan State . As per the legends, the temple was constructed to house the Vishnu emblem given to King Kiyamba by King Khekhomba of Shan. Phurailatpam Shubhi Narayan
3080-463: Was the first Brahmin priest of this temple. Christianity is the religion of 41% of the people in the state, but is the majority in rural areas with 53%, and is predominant in the hills. It was brought by Protestant missionaries to Manipur in the 19th century. In the 20th century, a few Christian schools were established, which introduced Western-type education. Christianity is the predominant religion among tribals of Manipur and tribal Christians make up
3136-663: Was the scene of many fierce battles between Japanese invaders and British Indian forces. The Japanese were beaten back before they could enter Imphal , which was one of the turning points of the overall war in South Asia. The Battle of Imphal , known to the Manipuris as Japan Laan , are among the lesser-known battles of the Second World War. Yet the Allied Victory in this battle was a turning point against
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