Manipur (Meitei: Kangleipak) is a state in Northeast India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. It 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 square kilometres (8,621 sq mi). Meitei language is the most widely spoken language and is also the official language of the state, spoken natively by the Meiteis and as a lingua franca by the Nagas, Kukis, Zomis and other smaller communities, who speak a variety of Sino-Tibetan languages. Manipur has been at the crossroads of Asian economic and cultural exchange for more than 2,500 years. It 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.
Northeast India is the easternmost region of India representing both a geographic and political administrative division of the country. It comprises eight states – Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim.
Lai Haraoba is a festival associated with the Meitei people celebrated to please the Umang Lai, the traditional deities of Sanamahism. Translated, Lai Haraoba means merry making of the Gods in Meiteilon. In this festival, the people worship Sanamahi, Pakhangba, Nongpok Ningthou and around 364 Umang Lais or the deiteis of the forest. This festival is organized as a piece of memory of the contribution of Gods in creating the Universe and also it is celebrated in the memory of the development of plants, animals and human beings.
The Rongmei are one of the major indigenous communities a part of the Naga tribes of North-East India. The Rongmei Naga are a scheduled tribe under the Constitution of India. The Rongmei have a rich culture, customs and traditions. They share similarity with their kindred tribes of Zeme, Liangmai and Inpui which together are known as Zeliangrong.
The Zemeic, Zeme, or Zeliangrong languages are a branch of Sino-Tibetan languages spoken mostly in Indian state of Nagaland, Assam and Manipur in northeast India. It may have close relationship with other Naga languages pending further research. The corresponding ethnic group is the Zeliangrong people. There were 63,529 Zeliang-speaking people in India in 2011.
Rongmei is a Sino-Tibetan language spoken by the Rongmei Naga community in Northeast India. It has been called Songbu and is close to Zeme and Liangmai. The language has been nomenclatured as "Ruangmei" and studied as a First Language paper from class I to X of Board of Secondary Education, Manipur. Ruangmei is studied as a Minor Indian Language(MIL) in Class XI & XII of Council of Higher Secondary Education Manipur (Cohsem).
Zeliangrong people are one of the major indigenous Naga communities living in the tri-junction of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland in India. They are the descendants of Nguiba. The term "Zeliangrong" refers to the Zeme, Liangmai and Rongmei Naga tribes combined. Earlier, the term also covered the Inpui tribe. The descendants of Hoi of Makuilongdi (Makhel) were divided and were made peripheral appendages to three political entities - Manipur, Naga Hills (Nagaland) and the Dima Hasao of Assam. The Zeliangrong may be classified as an ethno-cultural entity. The Zeliangrong belong to the larger Southern Mongoloid population and their language belongs to the Sino-Tibetan family of languages.
The Inpui tribe are one of the indigenous Naga tribes of Manipur, India. The majority of the Inpuis are settled in the Haochong subdivision in Noney District, and in Tamenglong district, Manipur. Inpuis are also settled in Makuilongdi, Senapati headquarter, & Inthan (Waphong) in Senapati district and also in Changangei, Tamphagei, Yurembam, Pantilong, Sagolband in Imphal west district in Manipur. Moreover, Inpuis are also settled in Nagaland and Assam as well. The highest peak in Inpui Naga land is Antrimon 12 km far away from Haochong village and numerous rivers and streams run through the land like Tuilang, Lingkwa and Ra-ah.
The Cinema of Manipur is the film industry based in Manipur, India. It does not only include the Meitei language movies, but covers all the films made in different languages of the different communities residing in Manipur. The Manipuri film industry was born when Matamgi Manipur was released on 9 April 1972. Before this, there were many attempts to make a film in the state, the most significant being Mainu Pemcha in 1948 which was left incomplete due to various problems.
Lui Ngai Ni is the seed-sowing festival celebrated by the Naga tribes of Manipur India. The festival heralds the season of seed sowing and marks the start of the year for the Nagas and the festival was declared a state holiday since 1988.
Gaan-Ngai also known as "Chakaan Gaan-Ngai" is a festival of the Zeliangrong people of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland states of India. It is the biggest festival out of many festivals observed throughout the indigenous calendar of Rongmei Naga/Kabui tribe.
Pongringlong (Charoipandongba), also known locally as Puangringluang, is a Rongmei Naga village located along NH 37. The village is located within the Saitu Gamphazol subdivision of Senapati district, Manipur state, India. The villagers are mostly small farmers practicing Slash-and-burn, or jhum, cultivation of land that is communally owned.
Guru Jianngam Kamei (1963–2016) was a noted music director, lyricist, and singer from Manipur, India. He was conferred the title "Guru Shiksha Parampara Award" by Ministry of Art and Culture, Government of India for his contribution to the field of music in 2012.
Romi Meitei is an Indian film director and lyricist who works in Manipuri films. He is a recipient of several awards at several film festivals organised in India and abroad and has directed movies for around two decades. Thoiba Thoibi, Inga Nonglakta, Manithoiba, Natephamda Tero, Chumthang Makhong, Mikithi and Dharmagi Mingda Imagidamak are some of the well-known movies he directed.
Nungba is one of the 60 Vidhan Sabha constituency in the Indian state of Manipur.
Nine Hills One Valley is a 2021 bilingual Manipuri film conceptualized and directed by Haobam Paban Kumar. It is produced by Warepam Jhansirani and Haobam Paban Kumar for Oli Pictures. The movie was among 19 feature films selected for Film Bazaar Recommends (FBR) section of the Film Bazaar 2020. It was premiered at the 16th Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival 2021, Indonesia. The film was screened in the competition section at the 5th Ottawa Indian Film Festival Awards (OIFFA) 2022, Canada.
Pabung Syam is a 2021 Manipuri documentary film directed by Haobam Paban Kumar. It is produced by Films Division of India. The film was selected in the non-feature section of the Indian Panorama at the 52nd International Film Festival of India 2021.
Sambal Wangma is a 1993 Manipuri film directed by K. Ibohal Sharma and produced by Ph. Sobita Devi. The story of the film was written by Ph. Sobita Devi and screenplay by K. Ibohal Sharma. It stars Khun Joykumar, Parvati and Star Kamei in the lead roles. A. Bimola and Khun Joykumar are playback singers of the songs in the movie. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Manipuri at the 41st National Film Awards. It was also selected for Indian Panorama of the International Film Festival of India 1994.
