Meetei Chanu

Last updated

Miss Meetei Chanu
Formation2016
Type Beauty pageant
Headquarters Imphal
Location
Official language
Meitei (Manipuri)
Key people
 Leishemba Sanajaoba, Ishorjit Chandam (organizers), Tampak Puba (publicity secretary) [1]
Parent organization
 Lainingthou Sanamahi Sana Pung (LSSP)

Miss Meetei Chanu or Miss Meitei Chanu is an international annual beauty pageant that is run by the Manipur based Lainingthou Sanamahi Sana Pung (LSSP). The event aims to make Meitei women understand the culture and tradition of Sanamahism (Meitei religion). It is one of the most watched beauty pageants in North East India. It co-exists with Miss Manipur, Femina Miss India Manipur and Miss Kangleipak. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Background

The Miss Meetei Chanu beauty pageant was first held in 2016. It was organised by the Lainingthou Sanamahi Sana Pung (LSSP), a socio-religious group, based in Manipur, India. The event is organised under the guidance of Leishemba Sanajaoba (Meitei : ꯂꯩꯁꯦꯝꯕ ꯁꯅꯥꯖꯥꯎꯕ ), His Highness, the present titular king of Manipur. Besides being a beauty pageant, the event also includes cultural activities like cooking dishes, cleaning courtyards and serving elders in traditional ways. [1]

"Our objective of the event is to preserve the age of traditions of the Meiteis and to make the younger generations aware of the culture and way of life so the earth preserved.The pageant is not to select only the beautiful girl, but to make them aware of the Meitei way of life, culture, tradition and religion and select the one who can present best the Meitei tradition as Meitei Chanu."

— Tampak Puba, general publicity secretary, organising committee [1]

Many elements of the Meitei culture are included in the contest. The contestants are to prepare indigenous dishes in traditional way. The cooking utensils are earthen ones, following the old practices. Other than this, cleaning of courtyard and service to the old people are also the parts of the event. [1]

"Our aim is to make Meitei girls and married women aware of our forefathers' religious way, culture and tradition."

— Ishorjit Chandam, organizer [1]

Special awards

Besides the overall top 3 awards, the following are the special awards.

Special awardsLatin-Roman transliterationsEnglish translation/equivalent terms
ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯤꯕꯤ ꯁꯝꯂꯥꯡNingthibi SamlangBest hair [4]
ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯤꯕꯤ ꯃꯤꯅꯣꯛNingthibi MinokBest smile [4]
ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯤꯕꯤ ꯈꯣꯡꯊꯥꯡNingthibi KhongthangBest walk [4]
ꯊꯧꯒꯟꯂꯣꯟ ꯆꯪꯈꯣꯟꯕꯤ/ꯊꯧꯒꯜ ꯂꯣꯟꯆꯠ ꯐꯖꯕꯤThouganlon Changkhonbi/Thougal Lonchat PhajabiBest manners [2] [4]
ꯃꯃꯤꯗ ꯃꯁꯛ ꯐꯖꯕꯤMami Da Masak PhajabiMiss Photogenic [2]
ꯍꯦꯟꯗꯣꯛꯅ ꯃꯇꯤꯛ ꯃꯌꯥꯢ ꯆꯦꯟꯕꯤHendokna Matik Mayai ChenbiMiss Outstanding Quality [2]

Challenge events

The contest has both non-costume based as well as costume based events. Generally, the costume based events are performed later.

Non-costume based events

The non-costume based events include the following rounds.

Event namesLatin-Roman transliterationsEnglish translation/description
ꯅꯥꯆꯣꯝ ꯁꯦꯝꯕNachom Sembamaking flower bunch to wear [2]
ꯆꯦꯡ ꯈꯩꯕ-ꯈꯞꯄCheng Kheiba-Khappahusking paddy [2]
ꯁꯨꯃꯥꯡ ꯋꯥꯢ ꯇꯩꯕShumang Wai Teibacourtyard mop contest [3] [5]
ꯐꯨ ꯍꯧꯕ/ꯃꯊꯦꯜ ꯂꯨꯀꯣꯢ ꯊꯣꯡꯕPhu Houba/Mathel Lukoi Thongbatraditional kitchen service [2] [3] [6] [7]
ꯂꯥꯢꯐꯝꯗ ꯎ ꯊꯥꯕLaiphamda oo thaabavisiting Meetei places of worship for tree plantation [2]

Costume-based events

The costume based events include three rounds.

Event namesLatin-Roman transliterationsEnglish translation/equivalent termsDescription
ꯑꯌꯨꯛꯀꯤ ꯌꯦꯟꯗꯥAyukki YendaIntroductory RoundContest for daily costumes of Meetei women worn at the dawn during the morning activities like praying to the God. [4]
ꯂꯥꯢ ꯍꯔꯥꯎꯕLai Haraoba traditional roundLai Haraoba traditional roundContest for costumes of Meetei women worn during Lai Haraoba. [4]
ꯑꯀꯦ-ꯑꯃꯧAke-Amou roundLast roundContest for costumes of Meetei women worn during socio-cultural ceremonies. [4]

Foreign delegates

In 2019, one delegate from Bangladesh and one from Assam participated in the 4th Miss Meetei Chanu beauty pageant in Manipur. [8] [9]

Bangladeshi delegate

Leiphrakpam Suchona Chanu (Meitei : ꯂꯩꯐ꯭ꯔꯥꯛꯄꯝ ꯁꯨꯆꯣꯅꯥ ꯆꯅꯨ) from Bangladesh auditioned for the pageant, along with 50 aspirants. [8] [9] L Suchona hails from a family of social and cultural activist parents, L Ibungohal Shyamal and L (O) Kunjarani Leima. Native to Bhanughas Tetai Gaon, Moulvibazar district, Bangladesh, she is an undergraduate student at Leading University, Sylhet, Bangladesh. [8] [9] In her maiden visit to Manipur, L Suchona was taking part in the beauty pageant remembering the love for her roots of culture. Along with her, her father is promoting Meitei culture in the sovereign nation of Bangladesh. [8] [9] She said to the public, regarding her participation in the event as follows:

“Participating in the pageant and my stay in Manipur will provide me new insights into the tradition and culture of Meeteis. There are so many things to learn. I am extremely happy to be here.”
“Winning or losing doesn't matter. All I want is to learn about my culture (Meetei), tradition.” [8] [9]

Notably, she won the main title of the pageant, making herself the first Bangladeshi to win the title from India. [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]

Delegates from Assam

Longjam Rabina Chanu (Meitei : ꯂꯣꯡꯖꯝ ꯔꯕꯤꯅꯥ ꯆꯅꯨ), from Bhatigram, Jaribon, Assam, participated the pageant in 2019. She is daughter of Rajkumar and Muhini Leima. She is pursuing BCom at Cachar College. She thanked the organiser Lainingthou Sanna Mahee Sanna Pung, Kangleipak (LSSP) for giving her the opportunity to represent as a Manipuri woman in the pageant. She expressed her gratitude for having an "an opportunity to learn new things". [8] [9]

Recent titleholders

Edition Meitei year (as bestowed during the contest)CountryTitleholdersVenue of CompetitionNumber of Entrants
20193417Flag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh Leiphrakpam Suchona Chanu (Meitei : ꯂꯩꯐ꯭ꯔꯥꯛꯄꯝ ꯁꯨꯆꯣꯅꯥ ꯆꯅꯨ) Imphal 30 [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]
20183416Flag of India.svg  India Oinam Merina Chanu (Meitei : ꯑꯣꯏꯅꯥꯝ ꯃꯦꯔꯤꯅꯥ ꯆꯅꯨ) Imphal [2]
20173415Flag of India.svg  India Laishram Shilla Chanu (Meitei : ꯂꯥꯏꯁ꯭ꯔꯝ ꯁꯤꯜꯂꯥ ꯆꯅꯨ) Imphal 35 [4] [16] [17]

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Meitei also known as Manipuri, is a Tibeto-Burman language of northeast India. It is the official language and the lingua franca of Manipur and an additional official language in four districts of Assam. It is one of the constitutionally scheduled official languages of the Indian Republic. Meitei is the most widely-spoken Tibeto-Burman language of India and the third most widely spoken language of northeast India after Assamese and Bengali. There are 1.76 million Meitei native speakers in India according to the 2011 census, 1.52 million of whom are found in the state of Manipur, where they represent the majority of its population. There are smaller communities in neighbouring Indian states, such as Assam (168,000), Tripura (24,000), Nagaland (9,500), and elsewhere in the country (37,500). The language is also spoken by smaller groups in neighbouring Myanmar and Bangladesh.

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The Meitei people, also known as Meetei, Manipuri people, is an ethnic group native to Manipur. They form the largest and dominant ethnic group of Manipur in Northeast India. They speak the Meitei language, one of the 22 official languages of the Republic of India and the sole official language of Government of Manipur. The Meiteis primarily settled in the Imphal Valley region in modern-day Manipur, though a sizeable population has settled in the other Indian states of Assam, Tripura, Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Mizoram. There is also a notable presence of Meitei people in the neighbouring countries of Myanmar and Bangladesh. The Meitei ethnic group represents about 53% of Manipur's population.

Yumnak is a family name (Sagei) In the Meetei society, and they speak Meetei Language. The name Yamunak as Pronounced "yoom-naak". Ethnic yumnaks are used in the Meetei /Meitei community including the Meitei Pangal and Meitei Bamon.

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The Lainingthou Sanamahi Kiyong, officially known as the Laiyingthou Sanamahi Kiyong, is a temple of God Lainingthou Sanamahi of Meitei religion (Sanamahism), built on the Nongmaiching mountain in the Imphal East district of Kangleipak. It is a center of the Sanamahism followers in Manipur. It is the central body of the "Sanamahi Lainingkol" at Chingoi Maru Langmaiching (Nongmaiching).

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Contest on Meitei way of life". The Telegraph. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Meetei Chanu 2018". Pothashang News. 1 November 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 "'Meetei Chanu' Final Contest on December 23". Pothashang News. 20 December 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Laishram Shilla Chanu wins Meetei Chanu". Pothashang News. 24 December 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  5. ↑ "Meetei Chanu Apirants Compete on Wei Teiba". Pothashang News. 16 December 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  6. ↑ "'Meetei Chanu' Crosses 'Phu Houba'". Pothashang News. 15 December 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  7. ↑ "4th Meetei Chanu : 07th oct19 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Two Manipuris from Assam, Bangladesh participating in 4th Meetei Chanu pageant". The Sangai Express. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Two Manipuris from Assam, Bangladesh participating in 4th Meetei Chanu pageant : 23rd sep19 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  10. 1 2 "Received". The Sangai Express. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  11. 1 2 "Received : 23rd oct19 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  12. 1 2 ভারতের ‘মীতৈ চনু- ২০১৯’ এর বিজয় মুকুট অর্জনকারী কমলগঞ্জের ‘সুচনা চনু’-কে সংবর্ধনা. Bojrokontho (in Bengali). Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  13. 1 2 কমলগঞ্জে মণিপুরি কন্যা সংবর্ধিত. www.koranginews24.com (in Bengali). 24 October 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  14. 1 2 ডেস্ক, য়েন্নীং (14 April 2021). "লৈফ্রাকপম সূচনা থামোয়গী ইন্টারভিউ: মীতৈ চনু ২০১৯গী ৱারী". Enaat (in Manipuri). Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  15. 1 2 Chitro, Bangladesh. মীতৈ চনু মুকুট জিতলেন বাংলাদেশের লৈফ্রাকপম সুচনা - News Vision BD (in Bengali). Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  16. ↑ "Laishram Shilla crowned Meitei Chanu 2017". Northeast Now. 24 December 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  17. ↑ "Laishram crowned Meitei Chanu". The Assam Tribune. 15 September 2010. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
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