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The Meitei people, also known as the Manipuri people, is the predominant ethnic group of Manipur in Northeast India. They speak Meitei language, one of the 22 official languages of the Indian Republic and the sole official language of Manipur. The Meiteis primarily settled in the Imphal Valley region in modern-day Manipur, though a sizable population has settled in the other Indian states of Assam, Tripura, Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Mizoram. There is also a notable presence of Meitei in the neighboring countries of Myanmar and Bangladesh. The Meitei ethnic group represents about 53% of Manipur's population.
Sanamahism or Meiteism or Lainingthouism, is an ethnic religion of the Meitei people of Manipur, Northeast India. It is a polytheistic religion and is named after God Lainingthou Sanamahi, one of the most important deities of the Meitei faith. Sanamahi is the eldest son of the supreme god Yaibirel Sidaba and the supreme goddess Leimarel Sidabi. Traditionally every Meitei household, irrespective of the religion, worships Sanamahi and Leimarel Sidabi. The importance of Sanamahi in the religion is also emphasized in the name itself which means Liquid Gold. Sanamahism does not have a religious head but has a body, Maru Loishang that oversees the main religious activities and govern all affairs pertaining to the religion including conducts of priest and priestess. The Maru Loishang also acts a court for religious disputes. There are three main departments under the Pandit Loishang, namely, the Amaiba Loishang, the Pena Asheiba Loishang and the Amaibi Loishang. These departments have existed since the reign of King Meidingu Hongnemyoi Khunjao Naothingkhong of Manipur in 662 AD.
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 deities 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.
Sajibu Nongma Pānba, also called Meetei Cheiraoba or Sajibu Cheiraoba, is the lunar new year festival of the people who follow the religion of Sanamahism in the Indian state of Manipur. The name Sajibu Nongma Pānba derives from the Manipuri words: Sajibu - the first month of the year which usually falls during the month of April according to Meitei lunar calendar, Nongma - first date of a Month, Pānba - to be. Literally, it means the first day of the month of Sajibu. Similarly, according to the Hindu lunar calendar, the lunar new year is celebrated on the same day as in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and many other Indian states.
Imoinu or Emoinu is a goddess associated with household, hearth, family, fireplace, kitchen, wealth, peace and prosperity in Meitei mythology and religion of Ancient Kangleipak. She is frequently associated with Leimarel Sidabi. She is regarded as one of the incarnations or representations of goddess Leimarel Sidabi.
Langpoklakpam Jayantakumar Singh is an Indian politician. He was elected to the Manipur Legislative Assembly from Keishamthong in the 2017 Manipur Legislative Assembly election as a member of the National People's Party. He was Minister of Health, Family Welfare, Law and Legislative, Art and Culture in N. Biren Singh cabinet. He was the chairman of the Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple Board, the temple development board of Lainingthou Sanamahi of the Sanamahi religion.
Sanamahi Temple or Sanamahi Sanglen is a temple of Lainingthou Sanamahi, the supreme deity of Sanamahism. It is located in the Sanakhwa Yaima Kollup near Kangla Palace in Imphal West district of Manipur, India. It is one of the oldest temples in Asia. However, it is often confused with the Sanamahi Kiyong Temple, situated in the hilltop of the Nongmaiching Hill of Imphal East district of Manipur. It is one of the largest Kanglei temples in the state.
Laininthou Sanamahee is the Supreme Guardian God of mankind and the supreme deity of the household in Meetei religion and mythology. He originated from the ancient kingdom of Kangleipak (Manipur). He is regarded as the most popular and significant divinity of Sanamahism. He is the brother of Pakhangba and Nongshaba. He is the eldest son of Creator God Saalailel Sitapa and Leimalel Sitapee, the protector of the Universe in Meetei mythology and philosophy and Mother Earth goddess Leimarel Sidabi.
Leimarel Sidabi or Leimalel Sitapi is a goddess in Meitei mythology and the religion of Ancient Kangleipak. She is the highest female divinity in the Meitei pantheon. She is the goddess of earth, of nature and the household. She is revered as the mother of every living being in the universe.
Manipur has a wide collection of notable art and cultural displays.
The Meitei calendar or Manipuri calendar or Kangleipak calendar or Maliyapham Palcha Kumshing is a lunar calendar used by the Meitei people of Manipur for their religious as well as agricultural activities. The concept of era in Meitei was first developed by Emperor Maliyafam Palcha, in the year 1397 BC in the kingdom of Kangleipak in present-day Manipur. It is believed that the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th and 7th months of the Meitei calendar were named after Poireiten's agricultural activities. Similar to Georgian calendar, the Meitei calendar also consists of twelve months and seven days but the starting date with the English calendar is different. The new year day known as, Sajibu Cheiraoba is celebrated on the 1st day of the month Sajibu.
Manipur, the Himalayan state of Eastern India is best known for the vibrant fairs and festivals held. Barely a month passes by without any festival.
Ibudhou Thangjing Temple or Lord Thangjing Temple is a grand ancient temple dedicated to Lord Eputhou Thangjing, the ancient national deity of ancient kingdom of Moirang. The best time to visit the temple is from May to July during the onset of the great mega music and dance religious festival of Lai Haraoba. It attracts thousands of tourists every year especially historians and archaeologists.
The Pakhangba Temple, also known as the Pakhangba Laishang, is a Meitei temple dedicated to the God Pakhangba of Sanamahism, the traditional Meitei religion, located beside the Nungseng Eekon, to the left side of the Kangla Sanathong, the western gate of the Kangla Fort in the Imphal West district of Manipur.
The Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple Board (LSTB) (Meitei: /lāi-nīng-thou sa-nā-ma-hī lāi-sang lūp/) is a temple development board of the Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple, Haying Khongban Uphong Yumpham, Imphal West district of Kangleipak (Manipuri for 'Manipur'). It is dedicated not only to God Lainingthou Sanamahi and Goddess Leimarel Sidabi of Sanamahism, but also to the other ancient Meitei gods and goddesses of the traditional Meitei religion.
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.
The Kangla Khunthokyai Apul Luplel (KAKHAL) (Meitei: /kang-lā khūn-thōk-yāi a-pūl lūp-lel/) is a non-governmental organization of the followers of Sanamahism (traditional Meitei religion) of Kangleipak (Manipuri for 'Manipur').
The South East Asia Cultural Organisation (SEACO) is an international cultural organization that works for the development of the Meitei culture of Kangleipak (Manipuri for 'Manipur'). It aims to preserve the unique history, culture, identity and religion of Manipur. It also advocates to take "extra caution about the issue of preservation of the cultural identity of the indigenous people in the wake of the present globalization".
References
- ↑ "Ancient Manipur ritual held". www.telegraphindia.com.
- ↑ "Sanamahi Ahong-Khong Chingba ritual to be organised :: Manipur News | Manipur Daily | Poknapham - Manipuri News!". thepeopleschronicle.in.
- ↑ "Sanamahee Ahong Khong Chingba observed after 350 years". June 28, 2018.
- ↑ "Kang Chingba". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2020-09-19.
- ↑ Yojana Magazine. Government of India. August 2020. p. 18.
- ↑ "Kang Rath Yatra Manipur | Kang Chingba Festival Manipur". www.tourmyindia.com. Retrieved 2020-09-19.