Manipur ..
Deep inside the forest of North East India, hiding from the world, surrounded by range of hills lies a place called Manipur "a jewelled land". This little paradise on earth is blessed with extra equisite beauty of nature. A virgin land, far from the madding crowd of industrial waste and sky scrappers is a tourist spot for those who love nature. Imphal, the capital is a valley surrounded by blue green hills, rich in art and tradition has inspired description such as the "Switzerland of the East" with its cascading rapids, tripping rivers, carpets of flowers, exotic blooms and lazy lakes.
Manipur is a mosaic of ancient traditions and rich cultural patterns. In the field of art and culture, the State is best represented by its classical and folkdance forms. Ras Lilas depict the Leelas (Sports) of Lord Krishna as a child with the Gopies (Milkmaids) of Brindavan, and express their yearning for communion with the Lord. The Rasa Dance is essentially lyrical and has extremely graceful movements. A spring festival, the "Lai-Horaoba" held in April/May is symbolised by a traditional, stylised and ritualistic dance performed for peace and prosperity. The Tribal folk dances are an expression of nature, creativity and aestheticism of the tribal way of life. One can be charmed by the colourful costumes, dance and unique rituals in festival such as Lui-ngai-ni (seed sowing festival of Nagas of Manipur), KUT (the largest festival of Kuki Chin Mizo communities)
Manipur's history, like that of her neighboring states, goes back to the ages: the ancient Meitei history centers around stories of the forefathers of the people. The land and its people have a varied and proud history. Manipur came under British rule after the Manipuris were defeated in the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891, after which the state was ruled as a Princely State by its own Maharaja who, no doubt, was guided by policies as laid down by the British Raj.
During the years preceding Independence, Maharaja Budhachandra Singh (1941-1955) along with his Maharani Ishori Devi - one of the Princesses in Nepal - ruled Manipur. It was during the reign of Budhachandra that his state faced the horrors of the Second World War. Manipur was bombarded by the Japanese, and several parts of the then Kingdom were destroyed and the King's Palace in Imphal was also hit. In the War, the British-led Allied Force defeated the invading Japanese and it came to an end in Manipur in 1945. When the British left India after her independence on 15th August 1947, they handed Manipur back to Maharaja Budhachandra and status-quo was restored to the Princely State.
It was only on 15th October, 1949 that Manipur merged with the Indian Union and by 21st January, 1972, Manipur attained full statehood in the Indian Union with its own Legislative Assembly and Members of the Parliament in New Delhi.
The people of Manipur include the Meitei, Naga, Meitei Pangal, Bamon and other communities. The Meiteis, Bamons or the Brahmins, and Pangals mainly live in the valley. There are a number of different tribes who also live in Manipur, Most of whom are hills tribes - such as Tangkhul, Mao, Kom, Purum, Ralte, Sema, Salte, Vaiphei, Monsang, Lamkang, Zhou and other Chin-Kuki-Mizo group. Meitei-lon (The Meitei Language or Manipuri) is common language generally used for purposes of communication. However, several of these tribes have their own language, tradition and culture. These people have lived together in harmony for centuries. Their folklore, myths and legends, dances, local games, martial arts, handloom products and handicrafts invariably have links with nature.
MANIPUR IS ONE OF THE STATES THAT COMPRISE THE NORTH-EASTERN REGION OF INDIA AND SHARES AN INTERNATIONAL BORDER WITH MYANMAR (BURMA). ITS IMMEDIATE NEIGHBOURING STATES ARE MIZORAM, NAGALAND, AND ASSAM. THIS STATES CAN CLAIM A GEOGRAPHICALLY UNIQUE POSITION, SINCE IT VIRTUALLY IS THE MEETING POINT BETWEEN INDIA AND SOUTH-EAST ASIA. MANIPUR VALLEY STANDS AT A HEIGHT OF 790 METRES AND IS SURROUNDED BY NINE HILL RANGES IN CIRCLES GIVING THE IMPRESSION OF A HILL AND TROUGH.
How to reach Manipur
Through Airways, Roadways and Railways.
Internal Travels
Facility of Taxis, buses and authorickshaws. Local rickshaws pullers shopping & seeing the places in and around the Imphal City.
Air communication
Tulihall airport at Imphal. To and fro service to Kolkata, New Delhi, Guwahati, Aizawl, and Dimpaur.
Flight services
Indian Airlines, Jet Airways, Indigo, Air Deccan, Kingfisher and Jettlite
Imphal - New Delhi (Daily)
Imphal - Kolkata (Daily)
Imphal - Guwahati (Daily)
Imphal - Aizawl (Thrice a week)
Imphal - Silchar (Daily)
Imphal - Dimapur (Daily)
Banks
All major Nationalised Banks have branches in Manipur such as SBI, UBI, PNB, BOB, AXIS with SBI, UBI AND AXIS BANK having ATM facilities in some of the Branch offices in Imphal.
Postal and Courier Services / Telegraph
General Post Offices, Imphal (STD, FAX, SPEED POST) and other facilities are also available
Courier service
Blue Dart, M.G. Avenue, Tel : 2231281
Overnite Express, Paona Bazar, Tel : 2451993
Desk to Desk Courier
Hospitals
Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Lamphelpat, Imphal
Tel : (Casualty & Emergency 2310478/ 2310411)
Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital,
Porompat, Imphal
Casualty Tel : 2223516
Shija Hospital and Research Centre, Langol
Imphal Tel : 2310522
Imphal Hospital, RIMS Road, Imphal Tel:
2410333/2411353
Langol View Clinic, RIMS Link Road, Imphal
Tel : 2310679/2224027
Imphal District Police
Imphal (West) Tel : 2450002
Imphal (East) Tel : 2441404
Singjamei P.S. Tel : 2450316
Lamphel P.S. Tel : 2414616
Porompat P.S. Tel : 2441404
Entry formalities:
All tourists from outside India intending to visit Manipur can avail permit from Indian Missions abroad, FRRO offices in Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi, the Immigration Office in Chennai and the Home Commissioner,
Government of Manipur, Imphal. Domestic tourists intending to visit Manipur by road via Dimapur/Kohima require Inner Line Permit to pass through Nagaland. These are issued by the Liaison Officers of the Government of Nagaland at New Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, Shillong and the Sub-divisional officer (Civil), Dimapur, and the Deputy Commissioner, Imphal can also issue permits to tourist traveling by road from Imphal to Kohima and Dimapur
Festivals
Manipur clearly loves its festivals: many festivals run throughout the year, with some months having more than one festival. All these festivals bring joy, fun and a sense of well-being for the people of Manipur. Some of the festivals of the Manipuris are:
Ningol chakkouba is an age-old social festival for the Meiteis. The guiding principle is that the parents and brothers organize traditional feasts at their respective parental homes in honour of their married daughters, sisters and sisters and their children every year on the second day of the Manipuri lunar month of Hiyangei. It goes without saying that this festival prominently features an excellent feast and also a happy social gathering of the married women with their parents and brothers. This is traditionally a Meitei festival; however, the Meiteis Pangals also celebrate this festival to a certain extent.
Ramjan Id ( or Ramjan Id) is important to the Manipuri Muslims. As in the case of devout Muslims around the world, this is a month-long period of self-denial by fasting during the day. The fast is broken after offering prayers at mosques, exchanging greetings with friends and relatives - and eating delicious food!
Kut is an autumn festival of the kuki-Chin-Mizo tribes in Manipur. This festival is in the nature of a thanksgiving for a good harvest. The festivities are accompanied by dances,
merriment, and happiness among the villagers. This post-harvest festival is usually observed on the 1st of November every year.
Christmas is the most well known festival of the Manipuri Christians. In more prosperous village, the Christmas celebrations flow into the New Year.
The Manipuri's New Year's Day (Cheiraoba) falls in the month of April. This is the time when Manipuris clean their houses, prepare special dishes that are first offered to the deities. Villagers of Manipur believe that, during this festival, climbing to the top of the nearest hill will lead them to greater heights in their lives. The Pangals also observe this festival.
Kang is the Rath Yatra of Manipur. This festival is celebrated over a period of eight days in July. This is one of the greatest of Hindu festivals in Manipur, when lord Jaganath leaves his temple in a 'car' known as the 'Kang' in Manipur and is pulled by pilgrims.
Heikru Hidongba is a festival of joy, usually held in September. It is an important religious boat race for the Meiteis.
LOKTAK LAKE
48 Kms. from Imphal, is the largest fresh water lake in the North East Region. From the Tourist Bunglow set atop Sendra Island, visitors get a bird's eye view of life on the Lake-small islands that are actually floating weeds on which the Lake-dwellers live in the backdrop of the shimmering blue water of the Lake, labyrinthine boat routes and colourful water plants. The Sendra Tourist Home with an attached Cafeteria is an ideal tourist spot. Boating and other water sports are being introduced here.
IMPHAL
Imphal is the capital of this beautiful land. Its blue-green hills, its flora and fauna, winding rivers are clear signals inviting the tourist to come and spend time. The Polo Ground dominates the landscape of the town; according to local legend, the Manipuri game of Sagol Kangjei is the original form of modern-day Polo. Manipur's proud heritage is encapsulated in a building that goes by the somewhat prosaic name of the State Museum. This museum displays Manipuri's works of art, archeology, natural history, and textiles. There is also a gallery containing a collection of portrait of former rulers of Manipur. And for those interested in vintage arms and weaponry, this museum has a section that displays some of the armory of the British Raj.
Khonghampat Orchidarium
Lovers of orchids can find no less than 120 species of orchids, barely 12 km from Imphal. All these are located in the Khonghampat Orchidarium
Zoological Garden
Barely 5 km from Imphal on the Imphal-Kangchup road is a Zoological Garden at Iroishemba. It is here that one can find one of the rarest species of deer-the brow antlered deer or Sangai in Manipuri.
Ima Market
Handloom and handicraft products are sold by women at this unique market in Imphal-it's the only market in the country owned and run exclusively by women. Must-buys at the market include colourful cotton wraps
War memorials
War memorials to the soldiers who died in the Second World War have been erected in Imphal and Kohima where the fighting was at its fiercest. Even now, visitors pay homage at these memorials. These war memorials have a plaque that has an inspiring message for visitors: "When you go home, tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow, we gave our today".
Another war memorial is a towering one called Shaheed Minar, which has been erected, at the Bir Tikendrajit Park, on the eastern part of the world's oldest polo ground in Imphal in memory of those martyrs who were hanged by the British on 13th August, 1891 on charges of waging war against the British Queen.
Dances
To the people of Manipur, art and culture is an integral part of their existence. Manipuri classical dance has taken in rightful place among India's pre-eminent classical dances - and is among the most unique. Manipuri dances have a common feature - their devotion to nature - irrespective whether the dance is of the folk, classical or contemporary variety. In general terms, the folk dances of the tribal people are characterized by their exotic costumes and their simplicity that is accompanied by graceful rhythm. These dances are ritualistic, recreational and religious in nature: the ritual are performed during certain rites or ceremony or sacrifice.
The Khamba- Thoibi dance is in the form of a duet - male and female - and is dedicated to the deity Thangjing of Moirang. The Lai Haraoba dance is, in fact, considered to be the origin of the modern Manipuri dance form: it is believed that the legendary hero and heroine - Khamba - Thoibi - danced before Lord Thangjing, a deity of Moirang, a peaceful village in the south - west of Manipur
Nupa pala, which is sometimes known as the Kartal Cholom or cymbal dance, is characteristic of the style of dance and music in Manipur. This dance is performed by male dancers who wear white large turbans. Initially, this dance starts with soft, slow and serene movements which slowly gather momentum. The men sing and dance to the accompaniment of an ancient classical drum called 'Pung'.
The Ras Lila has been described as 'the epitome of classical Manipuri dance'. One reason for its exalted position could be its being interwoven with the celestial and eternal love between Radha and Krishna. This dance is generally performed before a temple- performances often continue through the night. The Ras dance is performed during different seasons at temples such as Shri Govindaji on the night of Basanta Purnima, Sarada Purnima and Kartika Purnima. This dance is highly stylised and performed as a solo, duet or as a group dance. The rich and colourful costumes add to the beauty of this dance.
Pung CholomFlora & Fauna
With about 67% of its land in the hill tracts covered by forests, it is only to be expected that Manipur has a wide variety of flora & fauna. Climatic conditions vary depending on the height at which the forests grow. For instance, wet and pine forests occur at heights between 900 and 2700 meters above mean sea level.
Rare orchids claim pride of place in the rich bio-diversity of Manipur. One can find the Siroi Lily on the top of the Siroi Hill. In Manipur, colourful and beautiful orchids grow in the soil or on trees and shrubs. No less than 472 orchids have been identified in the state!
Manipur's fauna is also impressive and varied: the Hoolock Gibbon, the Slow Loris, the Clouded Leopard, the Spotted Linsang, the Barbacked Pheasant, the Burmese peafowl, and at least four different species of Hornbills can be found here. Perhaps Manipur's most unique animal is the dancing deer.
On the Loktak Lake, small herds of an endemic deer- known locally as Sangai - can be spotted. Unfortunately, this deer has the sad distinction of being the most threatened member of the cervid family in the world. The Salamander or 'Lengwa' can be seen at the foothills of Siroi in Ukhrul.
Sports
Manipur has its own hoary sporting tradition. Wars among the very small kingdoms and also neighbouring Ava (Myanmar) had a happy side effect: the development of local sports, including martial arts.
Manipur has several indigenous games, but the best known and most popular is Sagol Kangjei. Locals claim that this game is the origin of modern-day polo. It was in the 19th century that the British learned to play this game. Essentially this game has seven players to a side, all of whom are mounted on ponies that are no taller than 4 to 5 feet. Each player has a cane polo stick that has at its striking head an angled woodenhead. The ball is made of bamboo roots and a circumference of 14 inches. This is a game that meant for people of all ages. By way of protection, the ponies are 'decorated' with guards for their eyes, forehead, flanks, etc.
Handlooms & Handicrafts
Handloom weaving is Manipur's largest cottage industry and is one that has been in existence for ages. Virtually all weavers are women. The origin of handloom weaving has a tale of its own: Manipuris believe that the Goddess Panthoibee once saw a spider producing what looked like extremely fine thread with which the spider made its cobwebs. Seeing the spider's handicraft, the Goddess developed her own ideas on spinning and weaving - which led to Manipur's famous cottage industry.
The designs used by the women weavers of handloom material are unique, native ones. The Moirangphee design is believed to have been developed by Princess Thoibi of Moirang. The Phanek or snake design has red and black stripes reminiscent of the colours of some of the snakes in Manipur.
Shopping
The shopper can pick up a variety of products: exotic shawls, lashingphee blankets, cushion covers, bedspreads, readymade garments and the like. The choiceof souvenir-shopping is also varied: Krishna-Radha dolls in the Ras Lila pose, Phirooks or decorative papier mache flower vases, baskets, bamboo trays, or bamboo hats and so on.
Manipur is a mosaic of ancient traditions and rich cultural patterns. In the field of art and culture, the State is best represented by its classical and folkdance forms. Ras Lilas depict the Leelas (Sports) of Lord Krishna as a child with the Gopies (Milkmaids) of Brindavan, and express their yearning for communion with the Lord. The Rasa Dance is essentially lyrical and has extremely graceful movements. A spring festival, the "Lai-Horaoba" held in April/May is symbolised by a traditional, stylised and ritualistic dance performed for peace and prosperity. The Tribal folk dances are an expression of nature, creativity and aestheticism of the tribal way of life. One can be charmed by the colourful costumes, dance and unique rituals in festival such as Lui-ngai-ni (seed sowing festival of Nagas of Manipur), KUT (the largest festival of Kuki Chin Mizo communities)
Manipur's history, like that of her neighboring states, goes back to the ages: the ancient Meitei history centers around stories of the forefathers of the people. The land and its people have a varied and proud history. Manipur came under British rule after the Manipuris were defeated in the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891, after which the state was ruled as a Princely State by its own Maharaja who, no doubt, was guided by policies as laid down by the British Raj.
During the years preceding Independence, Maharaja Budhachandra Singh (1941-1955) along with his Maharani Ishori Devi - one of the Princesses in Nepal - ruled Manipur. It was during the reign of Budhachandra that his state faced the horrors of the Second World War. Manipur was bombarded by the Japanese, and several parts of the then Kingdom were destroyed and the King's Palace in Imphal was also hit. In the War, the British-led Allied Force defeated the invading Japanese and it came to an end in Manipur in 1945. When the British left India after her independence on 15th August 1947, they handed Manipur back to Maharaja Budhachandra and status-quo was restored to the Princely State.
It was only on 15th October, 1949 that Manipur merged with the Indian Union and by 21st January, 1972, Manipur attained full statehood in the Indian Union with its own Legislative Assembly and Members of the Parliament in New Delhi.
The people of Manipur include the Meitei, Naga, Meitei Pangal, Bamon and other communities. The Meiteis, Bamons or the Brahmins, and Pangals mainly live in the valley. There are a number of different tribes who also live in Manipur, Most of whom are hills tribes - such as Tangkhul, Mao, Kom, Purum, Ralte, Sema, Salte, Vaiphei, Monsang, Lamkang, Zhou and other Chin-Kuki-Mizo group. Meitei-lon (The Meitei Language or Manipuri) is common language generally used for purposes of communication. However, several of these tribes have their own language, tradition and culture. These people have lived together in harmony for centuries. Their folklore, myths and legends, dances, local games, martial arts, handloom products and handicrafts invariably have links with nature.
MANIPUR IS ONE OF THE STATES THAT COMPRISE THE NORTH-EASTERN REGION OF INDIA AND SHARES AN INTERNATIONAL BORDER WITH MYANMAR (BURMA). ITS IMMEDIATE NEIGHBOURING STATES ARE MIZORAM, NAGALAND, AND ASSAM. THIS STATES CAN CLAIM A GEOGRAPHICALLY UNIQUE POSITION, SINCE IT VIRTUALLY IS THE MEETING POINT BETWEEN INDIA AND SOUTH-EAST ASIA. MANIPUR VALLEY STANDS AT A HEIGHT OF 790 METRES AND IS SURROUNDED BY NINE HILL RANGES IN CIRCLES GIVING THE IMPRESSION OF A HILL AND TROUGH.
How to reach Manipur
Through Airways, Roadways and Railways.
Internal Travels
Facility of Taxis, buses and authorickshaws. Local rickshaws pullers shopping & seeing the places in and around the Imphal City.
Air communication
Tulihall airport at Imphal. To and fro service to Kolkata, New Delhi, Guwahati, Aizawl, and Dimpaur.
Flight services
Indian Airlines, Jet Airways, Indigo, Air Deccan, Kingfisher and Jettlite
Imphal - New Delhi (Daily)
Imphal - Kolkata (Daily)
Imphal - Guwahati (Daily)
Imphal - Aizawl (Thrice a week)
Imphal - Silchar (Daily)
Imphal - Dimapur (Daily)
Banks
All major Nationalised Banks have branches in Manipur such as SBI, UBI, PNB, BOB, AXIS with SBI, UBI AND AXIS BANK having ATM facilities in some of the Branch offices in Imphal.
Postal and Courier Services / Telegraph
General Post Offices, Imphal (STD, FAX, SPEED POST) and other facilities are also available
Courier service
Blue Dart, M.G. Avenue, Tel : 2231281
Overnite Express, Paona Bazar, Tel : 2451993
Desk to Desk Courier
Hospitals
Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Lamphelpat, Imphal
Tel : (Casualty & Emergency 2310478/ 2310411)
Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital,
Porompat, Imphal
Casualty Tel : 2223516
Shija Hospital and Research Centre, Langol
Imphal Tel : 2310522
Imphal Hospital, RIMS Road, Imphal Tel:
2410333/2411353
Langol View Clinic, RIMS Link Road, Imphal
Tel : 2310679/2224027
Imphal District Police
Imphal (West) Tel : 2450002
Imphal (East) Tel : 2441404
Singjamei P.S. Tel : 2450316
Lamphel P.S. Tel : 2414616
Porompat P.S. Tel : 2441404
Entry formalities:
All tourists from outside India intending to visit Manipur can avail permit from Indian Missions abroad, FRRO offices in Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi, the Immigration Office in Chennai and the Home Commissioner,
Government of Manipur, Imphal. Domestic tourists intending to visit Manipur by road via Dimapur/Kohima require Inner Line Permit to pass through Nagaland. These are issued by the Liaison Officers of the Government of Nagaland at New Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, Shillong and the Sub-divisional officer (Civil), Dimapur, and the Deputy Commissioner, Imphal can also issue permits to tourist traveling by road from Imphal to Kohima and Dimapur
Festivals
Manipur clearly loves its festivals: many festivals run throughout the year, with some months having more than one festival. All these festivals bring joy, fun and a sense of well-being for the people of Manipur. Some of the festivals of the Manipuris are:
Ningol chakkouba is an age-old social festival for the Meiteis. The guiding principle is that the parents and brothers organize traditional feasts at their respective parental homes in honour of their married daughters, sisters and sisters and their children every year on the second day of the Manipuri lunar month of Hiyangei. It goes without saying that this festival prominently features an excellent feast and also a happy social gathering of the married women with their parents and brothers. This is traditionally a Meitei festival; however, the Meiteis Pangals also celebrate this festival to a certain extent.
Ramjan Id ( or Ramjan Id) is important to the Manipuri Muslims. As in the case of devout Muslims around the world, this is a month-long period of self-denial by fasting during the day. The fast is broken after offering prayers at mosques, exchanging greetings with friends and relatives - and eating delicious food!
Kut is an autumn festival of the kuki-Chin-Mizo tribes in Manipur. This festival is in the nature of a thanksgiving for a good harvest. The festivities are accompanied by dances,
merriment, and happiness among the villagers. This post-harvest festival is usually observed on the 1st of November every year.
Christmas is the most well known festival of the Manipuri Christians. In more prosperous village, the Christmas celebrations flow into the New Year.
The Manipuri's New Year's Day (Cheiraoba) falls in the month of April. This is the time when Manipuris clean their houses, prepare special dishes that are first offered to the deities. Villagers of Manipur believe that, during this festival, climbing to the top of the nearest hill will lead them to greater heights in their lives. The Pangals also observe this festival.
Kang is the Rath Yatra of Manipur. This festival is celebrated over a period of eight days in July. This is one of the greatest of Hindu festivals in Manipur, when lord Jaganath leaves his temple in a 'car' known as the 'Kang' in Manipur and is pulled by pilgrims.
Heikru Hidongba is a festival of joy, usually held in September. It is an important religious boat race for the Meiteis.
LOKTAK LAKE
48 Kms. from Imphal, is the largest fresh water lake in the North East Region. From the Tourist Bunglow set atop Sendra Island, visitors get a bird's eye view of life on the Lake-small islands that are actually floating weeds on which the Lake-dwellers live in the backdrop of the shimmering blue water of the Lake, labyrinthine boat routes and colourful water plants. The Sendra Tourist Home with an attached Cafeteria is an ideal tourist spot. Boating and other water sports are being introduced here.
IMPHAL
Imphal is the capital of this beautiful land. Its blue-green hills, its flora and fauna, winding rivers are clear signals inviting the tourist to come and spend time. The Polo Ground dominates the landscape of the town; according to local legend, the Manipuri game of Sagol Kangjei is the original form of modern-day Polo. Manipur's proud heritage is encapsulated in a building that goes by the somewhat prosaic name of the State Museum. This museum displays Manipuri's works of art, archeology, natural history, and textiles. There is also a gallery containing a collection of portrait of former rulers of Manipur. And for those interested in vintage arms and weaponry, this museum has a section that displays some of the armory of the British Raj.
Khonghampat Orchidarium
Lovers of orchids can find no less than 120 species of orchids, barely 12 km from Imphal. All these are located in the Khonghampat Orchidarium
Zoological Garden
Barely 5 km from Imphal on the Imphal-Kangchup road is a Zoological Garden at Iroishemba. It is here that one can find one of the rarest species of deer-the brow antlered deer or Sangai in Manipuri.
Ima Market
Handloom and handicraft products are sold by women at this unique market in Imphal-it's the only market in the country owned and run exclusively by women. Must-buys at the market include colourful cotton wraps
War memorials
War memorials to the soldiers who died in the Second World War have been erected in Imphal and Kohima where the fighting was at its fiercest. Even now, visitors pay homage at these memorials. These war memorials have a plaque that has an inspiring message for visitors: "When you go home, tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow, we gave our today".
Another war memorial is a towering one called Shaheed Minar, which has been erected, at the Bir Tikendrajit Park, on the eastern part of the world's oldest polo ground in Imphal in memory of those martyrs who were hanged by the British on 13th August, 1891 on charges of waging war against the British Queen.
Dances
To the people of Manipur, art and culture is an integral part of their existence. Manipuri classical dance has taken in rightful place among India's pre-eminent classical dances - and is among the most unique. Manipuri dances have a common feature - their devotion to nature - irrespective whether the dance is of the folk, classical or contemporary variety. In general terms, the folk dances of the tribal people are characterized by their exotic costumes and their simplicity that is accompanied by graceful rhythm. These dances are ritualistic, recreational and religious in nature: the ritual are performed during certain rites or ceremony or sacrifice.
The Khamba- Thoibi dance is in the form of a duet - male and female - and is dedicated to the deity Thangjing of Moirang. The Lai Haraoba dance is, in fact, considered to be the origin of the modern Manipuri dance form: it is believed that the legendary hero and heroine - Khamba - Thoibi - danced before Lord Thangjing, a deity of Moirang, a peaceful village in the south - west of Manipur
Nupa pala, which is sometimes known as the Kartal Cholom or cymbal dance, is characteristic of the style of dance and music in Manipur. This dance is performed by male dancers who wear white large turbans. Initially, this dance starts with soft, slow and serene movements which slowly gather momentum. The men sing and dance to the accompaniment of an ancient classical drum called 'Pung'.
The Ras Lila has been described as 'the epitome of classical Manipuri dance'. One reason for its exalted position could be its being interwoven with the celestial and eternal love between Radha and Krishna. This dance is generally performed before a temple- performances often continue through the night. The Ras dance is performed during different seasons at temples such as Shri Govindaji on the night of Basanta Purnima, Sarada Purnima and Kartika Purnima. This dance is highly stylised and performed as a solo, duet or as a group dance. The rich and colourful costumes add to the beauty of this dance.
Pung CholomFlora & Fauna
With about 67% of its land in the hill tracts covered by forests, it is only to be expected that Manipur has a wide variety of flora & fauna. Climatic conditions vary depending on the height at which the forests grow. For instance, wet and pine forests occur at heights between 900 and 2700 meters above mean sea level.
Rare orchids claim pride of place in the rich bio-diversity of Manipur. One can find the Siroi Lily on the top of the Siroi Hill. In Manipur, colourful and beautiful orchids grow in the soil or on trees and shrubs. No less than 472 orchids have been identified in the state!
Manipur's fauna is also impressive and varied: the Hoolock Gibbon, the Slow Loris, the Clouded Leopard, the Spotted Linsang, the Barbacked Pheasant, the Burmese peafowl, and at least four different species of Hornbills can be found here. Perhaps Manipur's most unique animal is the dancing deer.
On the Loktak Lake, small herds of an endemic deer- known locally as Sangai - can be spotted. Unfortunately, this deer has the sad distinction of being the most threatened member of the cervid family in the world. The Salamander or 'Lengwa' can be seen at the foothills of Siroi in Ukhrul.
Sports
Manipur has its own hoary sporting tradition. Wars among the very small kingdoms and also neighbouring Ava (Myanmar) had a happy side effect: the development of local sports, including martial arts.
Manipur has several indigenous games, but the best known and most popular is Sagol Kangjei. Locals claim that this game is the origin of modern-day polo. It was in the 19th century that the British learned to play this game. Essentially this game has seven players to a side, all of whom are mounted on ponies that are no taller than 4 to 5 feet. Each player has a cane polo stick that has at its striking head an angled woodenhead. The ball is made of bamboo roots and a circumference of 14 inches. This is a game that meant for people of all ages. By way of protection, the ponies are 'decorated' with guards for their eyes, forehead, flanks, etc.
Handlooms & Handicrafts
Handloom weaving is Manipur's largest cottage industry and is one that has been in existence for ages. Virtually all weavers are women. The origin of handloom weaving has a tale of its own: Manipuris believe that the Goddess Panthoibee once saw a spider producing what looked like extremely fine thread with which the spider made its cobwebs. Seeing the spider's handicraft, the Goddess developed her own ideas on spinning and weaving - which led to Manipur's famous cottage industry.
The designs used by the women weavers of handloom material are unique, native ones. The Moirangphee design is believed to have been developed by Princess Thoibi of Moirang. The Phanek or snake design has red and black stripes reminiscent of the colours of some of the snakes in Manipur.
Shopping
The shopper can pick up a variety of products: exotic shawls, lashingphee blankets, cushion covers, bedspreads, readymade garments and the like. The choiceof souvenir-shopping is also varied: Krishna-Radha dolls in the Ras Lila pose, Phirooks or decorative papier mache flower vases, baskets, bamboo trays, or bamboo hats and so on.
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