Meitei people

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Meitei people
(Manipuri people) [1]
Meitei transliteration of the term Meitei -transparent.png
Salai Taret Flag.svg
Cultural flag of the Meitei people
Total population
1,800,000+ [2] (2011)
Regions with significant populations
Flag of India.svg  India 1,760,913 [3]
           Manipur 1,522,132 [4]
           Assam 168,127 [5]
           Tripura 23,779 [6]
           Nagaland 9,511 [7]
           Meghalaya 4,451 [8]
           Arunachal Pradesh 2,835 [9]
           Mizoram 2,242 [10]
Flag of Myanmar.svg  Myanmar 25,000 [11]
Flag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh 15,000 [2]
Languages
Meetei Mayek letter I.svg Meitei language
(officially known as Manipuri language)
Religion
Majority:
Om.svg Hinduism (83.38%) - predominately Vaishnavism
Minority:
[12] [13] [14]
Related ethnic groups
Bamars, Shan, Chin, Kachin, Meitei Pangals, Tripuri, Nagas, other Tibeto-Burman groups
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Meitei people
Manipur districts blank.png
History
Culture
People
Religion
Politics

The Meitei people, also known as Meetei, [15] Manipuri people, [1] are a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group native to Manipur. They form the largest and dominant ethnic group of Manipur in Northeast India. They speak the Meitei language (officially called Manipuri), one of the 22 official languages of the Republic of India and the sole official language of Government of Manipur. [1] [16] 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. [2] [17] There is also a notable presence of Meitei people in the neighbouring countries of Myanmar and Bangladesh. [2] [11] [18] The Meitei ethnic group represents about 53% of Manipur's population. [19]

Contents

Endonyms and exonyms

The Meitei are known by a number of endonyms, Meitei, Meetei, Meithei (Meitei), [1] and as well as by numerous exonyms, such as Meckley, [20] [21] Manipuri, Cassay-Shan, and Kathe (Burmese). [22] The term Manipuri is widely used, but problematic because of its ambiguous scope: next to being a synonym for Meitei/Meetei, it can also refer in a wider sense to the native ethnic groups in the hills of Manipur. [15]

Geographical distribution

India

Manipur

The Indian state of Manipur has the largest Meitei population among all its geographical distribution. [23]

Assam

Districts of Barak Valley - Meitei speaking population settlement areas of Assam Map of Barak Valley.jpg
Districts of Barak Valley - Meitei speaking population settlement areas of Assam

Meitei people are the third largest ethnic group, after Bengalis and Hindi speaking people, in the Barak Valley region of Assam state of India. [24]

Bangladesh

Areas where there is significant population of Meiteis in Bangladesh Sylhet in Bangladesh.svg
Areas where there is significant population of Meiteis in Bangladesh

The population of Meiteis are found in four districts of Sylhet Division in Bangladesh, namely Sylhet District (thirteen villages), Moulvibazar District (twenty-eight villages), Sunamganj District (three villages) and Habiganj District (four villages). In early times, there were Meitei population in Dhaka, Mymensingh and Comilla also. [25]

Myanmar

Myanmar has a significant population of Meitei people in Kachin state, Yangon Region, Sagaing Region, Shan state, Ayeyarwady Region, among others. [26]

Origins and history

"The beginning of this old Manipuri literature (as in the case of Newari) may go back to 1500 years, or even 2000 years, from now." [27] [28] [29]

—Suniti Kumar Chatterji, Padma Vibhushan awardee Indian scholar

The earliest sections of the Cheitharol Kumbaba , a Meitei chronicle, record the gradual spread of Meiteis across Kangleipak ( Meitei for ' Manipur ') and their assimilation of other clans into a confederacy. [30] [31]

In Kangleipak (Manipur)

In 1100 CE, Loyumba Shinyen (Old Manipuri : ꯂꯣꯌꯨꯝꯄ ꯁꯤꯟꯌꯦꯟ, romanized: Loyumpa Shinyen), an ancient Meitei language constitution was written and regulated under the supervision of Meitei King Loiyumba (Loyumba) (1074 CE-1112 CE) in the Ancient Kangleipak (early Manipur). [32] It is a formal proclamation of the proto-constitution which was drafted in 429 CE by Meitei King Naophangba. [33] [34] [35] The idea of its constitutionalism was functional until it was substituted by the Manipur State Constitution Act 1947. [36]

In Myanmar (Burma)

An 1855 watercolour of a Kathe horseman in the Burmese royal service Manipuri horseman.jpg
An 1855 watercolour of a Kathe horseman in the Burmese royal service

Myanmar is home to a sizeable community of Meiteis, who are called Kathe in Burmese. [37] Unlike other Hindu communities in Myanmar, the Meitei resemble other Burmese ethnic groups in terms of physical appearance, which has accelerated their assimilation and integration into Burmese society. [37] In the early 1950s, Burmese Meiteis numbered approximately 40,000, with a third of them residing in Mandalay. [38] Current estimates are approximately 25,000. [11] Meiteis have resettled throughout the country, including in villages near Myitkyina to the north, Homalin, Kalewa, Pyay, in the center of the country, and Yangon to the south. [38] They continue to practice Hinduism in Myanmar. [39]

As a result of wars between the Meitei kingdom and the Konbaung dynasty between the 17th and 18th centuries, many Meiteis were resettled in the Burmese kingdom. [40] Some Meitei settlements in modern-day Myanmar originate from the 1758–1759 war, and from the Burmese occupation of Manipur from 1819 to 1826. [40] [38] Alaungpaya, during the former campaign, resettled Meiteis in Sagaing and Amarapura. [38] The Meitei people's horsemanship skills were employed in the Burmese royal army, where they formed the elite Cassay cavalry (ကသည်းမြင်းတပ်) and artillery regiments (ကသည်းအမြောက်တပ်) which were employed during the Burmese–Siamese wars. [41] The Burmese court also retained a retinue of Manipuri Brahmins called Bamons, also called Kathe Ponna (ကသည်းပုဏ္ဏား) to advise and conduct court rituals. [38]

Language and writing systems

The Meitei people speak the Meitei language (also known as the Manipuri language), a Tibeto-Burman language. Meitei is one of the languages with legal status in India, and was included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India in 1992. [42]

There are many Meitei language movements, including classical language movement (predominantly in Manipur), associate official language movement (in Assam), linguistic purism movement (predominantly in Manipur), etc.

Historically and then after a long gap, presently, Meitei was written in the indigenous Meitei mayek script. [43] The script was replaced by an alphabet based on the Bengali script in the early 18th century. [44] The Meitei Mayek script has seen a revival in recent decades, and is now seen in street signs, schools, newspapers, and legislative proceeding records. [45]

Literature

The Numit Kappa, a Meitei epic composed around 33CE. The classical Meitei epic of the "Numit Kappa", written in ancient Meitei language (in archaic Meitei script).jpg
The Numit Kappa , a Meitei epic composed around 33CE.

Among the heritage of diverse literary works in Meitei literature, the Khamba Thoibi Sheireng , ( Meitei : ꯈꯝꯕ ꯊꯣꯏꯕꯤ ꯁꯩꯔꯦꯡ, lit.  'poem on Khamba Thoibi') [46] ), is regarded as the national epic of the Manipuris. [47] [48] [49] It is an epic poem based on the ancient romantic adventure tale of Khamba and Thoibi. It is the best known magnum opus of Hijam Anganghal Singh. It is often considered to be the greatest of all the Meitei epic poems. At 39,000 verses, it is the longest Indian epic just after the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. [50] [49] [51]

Culture

The Tableau of State of Manipur passing through the Rajpath during the full dress rehearsal for Republic Day Parade - 2005, in New Delhi on January 23, 2005.jpg
The tableau of state of Manipur passing through the Rajpath during the full dress rehearsal for the Republic Day Parade in New Delhi on January 23,2006.jpg
The tableau of Manipur passes through the Rajpath, on the occasion of the 69th Republic Day Parade 2018, in New Delhi on January 26, 2018.jpg
The tableau of Manipur passes through the Rajpath during the full dress rehearsal for the Republic Day Parade-2017, in New Delhi on January 23, 2017.jpg
The tableau of Manipur passes through the Raj path during the 61st Republic Day Parade-2010, in New Delhi on January 26, 2010.jpg
The Republic of India honouring and showcasing the cultural heritage of the Meiteis (clockwise from the top): Kangla Fort, Thang-Ta and the composite culture of Kangleipak (Meitei for ' Manipur ') (2005), Shri Shri Govindaji Temple, Yaoshang and Pung Cholom (2006), Maibi and Lai Haraoba (2017), Hiyang Hiren and Pakhangba (2010), Maiba, Pena (musical instrument) & Khamba Thoibi Jagoi (2018)

Architectural designs and sculptures

Some of the significant intricate designs of the traditional Meitei architecture and sculptures are seen in various buildings and institutions, especially the temples of traditional Meitei religion: Hiyangthang Lairembi Temple, Pakhangba Temple, Kangla, Sanamahi Kiyong Temple, Thangjing Temple, Moirang, among many. Others include the Ima Keithel, Kangla Sanathong. include Some of the worthy to mention finely crafted sculptures are the Marjing Polo Statue, Kangla Sha sculptures, Statue of Meidingu Nara Singh.

Classical and folk dances, festivals and ritualistic theatres

Maibis (Meitei for 'priestesses') dancing in Lai Haraoba (Meitei for 'Merrymaking festival of the gods') Lai Haraoba-3 - 5571676820.jpg
Maibis ( Meitei for 'priestesses') dancing in Lai Haraoba ( Meitei for 'Merrymaking festival of the gods')

The Lai Haraoba ( Meitei for 'Merrymaking festival of the gods') is a traditional Meitei ritualistic theatrical festival, consisting of different dances, musical performances and carnivals in the temples and the streets. It's dedicated to the worship of the ancient Meitei gods and goddesses, who are categorised as the Umang Lai ( Meitei for 'Sylvan deities') and Lam Lai ( Meitei for 'Tutelary deities'). [52] [53]

Raslila in Jagoi Raas (Meitei for 'Manipuri classical dance') style Rasa Lila in Manipuri dance style.jpg
Raslila in Jagoi Raas ( Meitei for ' Manipuri classical dance ') style

The Manipuri classical dance , also referred to as the ManipuriRaas Leela (Meitei : Jagoi Raas, Raas Jagoi [54] [55] [56] ), is a jagoi and is one of the major Indian classical dance forms, originating from the historical Manipur Kingdom. [57]

Theatre and cinema

The clapperboard of Meitei cinema (Maniwood) Meitei Cinema - Maniwood Clapperboard.jpg
The clapperboard of Meitei cinema (Maniwood)

The first Manipuri-language film, Matamgi Manipur , was released on 9 April 1972. [58] Paokhum Ama (1983) is the first full-length colour feature film (according to the Academy's definition of a feature film) [59] of Manipur and was directed by Aribam Syam Sharma. Lammei (2002) is the first Manipuri Video film to have a commercial screening at a theatre. [60]

Golden Montgolfiere at the Nantes

Imagi Ningthem ( Meitei for ' My Son, My Precious ') (1981) is the only Indian film that gets the Golden Montgolfiere at the Festival des 3 Continents, Nantes in 1982, bringing fame and honour of the Indian cinema at the international platform. [61] [62]

World classic in Cannes

Ishanou ( Meitei for ' The Chosen One ') (1990) was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1991 Cannes Film Festival, [63] and again after a gap of 33 years, it was recognised as a "World Classic" by the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. Notably, it was the only film selected from India for the event in that year. [64] [65] [66]

Achievements in the National Film Awards

Religions and beliefs

According to the 2011 census, 83.38% of Meiteis practice Hinduism, around 16% of Meiteis follow the traditional Sanamahi religion, about 8% follow Islam [12] and are known as Meitei Pangals, and about 1.06% are Christians. [13] Meiteis follow both Hinduism as well as Sanamahi religious traditions and rituals. For example, they worship Sanamahi in the south-west corners of their homes. [67]

Calendar

The Meitei people follow a traditional calendar called Maliyafam Palcha Kumsing, which has 12 months and a 7-day week. [68]

Cuisine

Singju is a signature dish of the Meitei cuisine Yongchaak Singju with Hawai Maton.jpg
Singju is a signature dish of the Meitei cuisine

Rice, vegetables and fish are staple food of the Meiteis, although meat is also consumed; but in traditional meitei dishes meat is never used in non-vegetarian dishes. In traditional and cultural gatherings fish, snails, oysters, crabs, eels etc. are the only non-vegetarian elements used and a significant number of meiteis follow it where meat is cooked and eaten outside the house if consumed. Rice is the main carbohydrate source in a Meitei dish; typically, it is served with vegetables, fish, freshwater snails, crabs, oyesters, eels etc. Among the most famous species of fishes Manipuri Sareng (Wallago attu) or commonly known as Helicopter catfish, Hilsa (ilish Tenualosa ilisha), freshwater snails (pila (gastropod)) and edible oysters are considered a delicacy. The vegetables are either made as stews (Kangsoi) with less oil/no oil used in sauteing, or stir fried directly in oil with various added spices to make an oily spicy side dish (Kanghou). Roasted/Smoked and Sun-dried fish or fried fresh fish is usually added in most of the stews and curry to impart special taste. The vegetables, herbs and fruits consumed in the region are more similar to those in Southeast/East/Central Asian, Siberian, Arctic, Polynesian and Micronesian cuisines such as Myanmar, Thailand, Inuit, etc. E.g. treebean (yongchak), galangal (loklei), culantro (awa phadigom), lime basil (mayangton), fishwort (tokningkhok) and many others, which are not cultivated in northern India. One of the most important ingredients in Meitei cooking is Ngari (fermented fish). Roasted ngari is used in the singju (a kind of salad), morok metpa (chilli chutney), eromba (boiled and mashed veggies with chillies). A variety of fermented bamboo shoots (soibum) as well as fresh bamboo shoots (Ushoi/Shoidon), and fermented soya beans (hawaijaar) also form an important part of Meitei cuisines. All meals are served with some fresh aromatic herbs on the side.

A typical every day Meitei meal will have rice, vegetable or fish curry, a piquant side dish (either morok metpa or eromba accompanied with herbs), a champhut (a steamed/boiled vegetable with little sugar, e.g., carrot, pumpkin or cucumber slices or steamed/boiled mustard green stems, etc. without sugar), and a Kanghou. Meat cuisines are also popular amongst the Meiteis and some of the common meat curries are yen thongba (chicken curry) and nganu thongba (duck cury) and depending on regions, oak thongba (pork curry) and shan thongba (beef curry).

Subsistence

The Meitei are mainly agriculturists in which rice is a staple crop. However, they also grow mangoes, lemons, pineapples, oranges, guavas, and other fruits. Fishing is also common among the Meitei that can either be a profession or a hobby. Women tend to dominate the local markets as sellers of food items, textiles, and traditional clothing. [69]

Notable people

Associations and organisations

Society-based

Language-based

Religion-based

See also

Notes

    Related Research Articles

    Indian literature refers to the literature produced on the Indian subcontinent until 1947 and in the Republic of India thereafter. The Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India has 22 officially recognised languages. Sahitya Akademi, India's highest literary body, also has 24 recognised literary languages.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Meitei language</span> Tibeto-Burman language of India

    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.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Meitei literature</span> Indian literature

    Meitei literature, also known as Manipuri literature, is literature written in the Meitei language of Manipur. An ancient institution of learning, the Luwang Nonghumsang, later known as the Pandit Loishang, collected sources of indigenous Meitei knowledge and philosophy until the 18th century. Writing by Meiteis is assumed to go back to the Kingdom of Kangleipak in the early 12th century. The Meitei script is a Brahmic abugida. It is known only from the Puya manuscripts discovered in the first half of the 20th century. Manuscripts of the 18th and 19th centuries were written using the Bengali alphabet. The existence of the Meitei script in the 15th-century hinges on the authenticity of an inscription dated to the reign of Senbi Kiyamba. The first printed Manipuri book, Manipurer Itihas, appeared in 1890 from the Baptist Mission Press, Calcutta. Though the kings of Manipur had established contact with the British from the middle of the eighteenth century onward the real impact of the contact came much later. Johnstone Middle English School, based on the western system of education, was started in 1885 at Imphal, and in 1891 Manipur lost its independence to the British. British domination facilitated the introduction of new systems in the civil, political and educational spheres, which hastened the process of modernization in Manipur, exposed as it was to new ideas and influences.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Manipuri Sahitya Parishad</span> A literary club for Meitei language

    The Manipuri Sahitya Parishad is a literary council dedicated to the active promotion and the development of literary works in the Meitei language in India. in national as well as international levels. It has its branches in the Manupur cities of Imphal, Jiribam, Bishnupur and Thoubal inside Manipur and in Tripura and Meghalaya in Assam.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Nongshāba</span> Lion God of Manipur

    Nongshaba is a lion god in Sanamahism and Meitei mythology. He is also regarded as a king of the gods. He is credited with producing light in the primordial universe and is regarded as the maker of the sun. He is worshipped by the people of both the Ningthouja clans as well as the Moirang clans. Nongshaba was worshipped by the people of Moirang clan as a lineage deity and regarded as the father of the god Thangching. He is the greatest of the Umang Lais but he made his only son Thangching the chief deity of Moirang.

    The Khamba Thoibi Sheireng, also spelled as the Khamba Thoibi Seireng, is a Classical Meitei language epic poem based on the ancient love story of Khuman prince Khamba and Moirang princess Thoibi of Ancient Moirang kingdom of Ancient Kangleipak. It is the magnum opus of Hijam Anganghal, the "Bard of Samurou". It is regarded as the national epic of the Manipuris. It is regarded as the greatest of all the epic poems in Meitei literature, with 39,000 verses, thereby being the third longest Indian epic poem, next to the Mahabharata and the Ramayana.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Meitei classical language movement</span> Social movement to make Meitei an officially recognised Classical language of India

    The Meitei language movement sought to achieve recognition of Meitei as a Classical language of India. It was supported by various literary, political, social associations and organisations as well as notable individual personalities of Bangladesh, Myanmar, Northeast India.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Khamba and Thoibi</span> Old Meitei legend

    The ancient legend of Khamba and Thoibi is a classic, as well as one of the epic cycles of incarnations of Meitei mythology and folklore, that is originated from Ancient Moirang kingdom of Ancient Kangleipak . It is referred to as the "national romantic legend of Manipur" by Indian scholar Suniti Kumar Chatterjee.

    Nongmaiching Hill or Nongmaijing Hill, also known as the Selloi Langmai Ching, is a hill in the Imphal Valley in Manipur, India. It rises to the east of the Imphal City with a peak at an elevation of 5,133 feet (1,565 m) above sea level. It is a holy pilgrimage site for the Meitei people. In Meitei mythology and religion (Sanamahism), it is a sacred mountain and the abode of God Nongpok Ningthou and Goddess Panthoibi. In Meitei folklore, the Nongmaiching is described as the hill that produces "the seven days of a week".

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Lainingthou Sanna Mahee Sanna Pung, Kangleipak</span> Meitei religious organization

    The Lainingthou Sanna Mahee Sanna Pung, Kangleipak, also known as the Lainingthou Sanamahi Sanapung (LSSP), is a non-governmental organization of the followers of the Sanamahism, dedicated to God Lainingthou Sanamahi and other ancient Meitei deities of Kangleipak.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Khamba Thoibi Jagoi</span>

    Khamba Thoibi Jagoi, also known as Khamba Thoibi classical dance or Khamba Thoibi ballet, is a traditional Meitei ritualistic and theatrical classical dance form, which is usually enacted as a part and parcel of the Lai Haraoba performances, dedicated to God Thangching, the national deity of Ancient Moirang realm. Notably, it is one of the cultural elements, giving inspirations to the development of the Manipuri Raas Leela classical dance drama form.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Khoirentak tiger</span>

    The Khoirentak tiger was a vicious monster in Meitei mythology that lived in Khoirentak. It was eventually killed by Khuman Khamba. The tiger caused havoc to the people of the Khoirentak in Ancient Moirang, thereby becoming the "man eater" of the region. Finally, Khuman Khamba and Nongban were ordered by the king, to catch the beast. In the first encounter, Nongban was killed by the tiger and at the final meet, Khuman Khamba successfully captured and killed it. Finally, when he brought it to the capital city of Ancient Moirang, Thoibi was given to him, hand in marriage.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Meitei culture</span> Meitei cultural heritage

    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.

    Ningthou Kangba was a ruler of Ancient Kangleipak. He is traditionally seen as having invented Sagol Kangjei, the earliest form of the modern day polo sports. He was the son of King Tangja Leela Pakhangba (1445 BC-1405 BC) and Queen Sinbee Leima. He was the consort of Queen Leima Taritnu, daughter of a king named Nongpok Ningthou of the Nongmaiching Hill in the east of Imphal.

    Meidingu Naophangba was a Meetei ruler of Ningthouja dynasty of Ancient Manipur. He is the successor of Naokhamba and the predecessor of Sameiraang. He promulgated a proto-Constitution in 429 AD, which later grew into the Loyumba Shinyen, a written constitution in 1100 AD, during the reign of King Loyumba. He is one of the most outstanding figures in the history of Meitei architecture of Ancient Manipur. He laid the foundation stone of the Kangla, the "Namthak Sarongpung", which is the holiest place to the Manipuri ethnicity. During his reign, the coronation hall in the Kangla was inaugurated and a hog was sacrificed. According to the Loyumba Shinyen, he took command from Mangang Luwang Khuman for the administration of justice in the kingdom. According to the Chakparol, the ten villages of the Chakpas separated during his reign. It was right from his reign that the newcomers (immigrants) were assigned and admitted to the yek salai (clans) and the yumnaks (families) of the Meitei ethnicity. According to the Thengkourol, copper and brass were imported from Burma and China during his reign.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 in Meitei culture</span>

    2022 in Meitei culture, including but not limited to Meitei architecture, Meitei cinema, Meitei cuisine, Meitei dances, Meitei festivals, Meitei language, Meitei literature, Meitei music, Meitei religion, Meitei script, etc.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 in Meitei culture</span>

    2021 in Meitei culture, including but not limited to Meitei architecture, Meitei cinema, Meitei cuisine, Meitei dances, Meitei festivals, Meitei language, Meitei literature, Meitei music, Meitei religion, Meitei script, etc.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Meitei people in Bangladesh</span> Meitei people in the Bangladesh

    Meitei people, also known as Manipuri people, is one of the minority ethnic groups of Bangladesh. They live mostly in the Sylhet division of the country. The Meitei of Bangladesh's population reached 15,000 in 2020

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Meitei people in Nagaland</span> Ethnic group in Nagaland

    The Meitei people, also called Manipuri people, are one of the minority ethnic groups in Nagaland state. They were living in the region before the formation of the Indian state of "Nagaland".

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Meitei people in Meghalaya</span> Meiteis in Meghalaya

    The Meitei people, also called Manipuri people, is one of the minority ethnic groups in Meghalaya.

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      P.20: "historically, academically and conventionally Manipuri prominently refers to the Meetei people."
      P.24: "For the Meeteis, Manipuris comprise Meeteis, Lois, Kukis, Nagas and Pangal."
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    27. ↑ Indian Literature - Volume 14 - Page 20 (Volume 14 - Page 20 ed.). Sahitya Akademi. 1971. p. 20. The beginning of this old Manipuri literature (as in the case of Newari) may go back to 1500 years, or even 2000 years, from now.
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    38. 1 2 3 4 5 Sanajaoba, Naorem (1988). Manipur, Past and Present: The Heritage and Ordeals of a Civilization. Mittal Publications. ISBN   978-81-7099-853-2.
    39. ↑ "စစ်ကိုင်းမြို့တွင် ကသည်းမယ်တော်ကြီးချိုးရေတော်သုံးပွဲကျင်းပ" [Three festivals of Kathe Maedaw Gyi Cho Ye Taw held in Sagaing]. Eleven Broadcasting. 13 June 2019. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021.
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