Loktak Ima

Loktak Ima (loktaak eemaa ), also known as Loktak Lairembi (loktaak lairembee), is the personification of the Loktak lake, who is revered by the Meitei people as the mother goddess of the sacred waters of the Loktak lake. She is highly respected and venerated by the fishermen communities of the Meitei ethnicity living in and around the periphery of the Loktak lake. She is also considered as the fountainhead of Meitei culture. Her embodiment, the Loktak lake is associated with the epic of Khamba and Thoibi as well as that of Poubi Lai of Meitei mythology and folklore.

Attributes
Loktak goddess is often compared to a lady with heart that is pure and kind. It is said that whenever she passes by, the water birds praise her by singing and the deers bow their heads. She is benevolent to fishes.

The of traditional Meitei religion (Sanamahism) often sings of the grasslands, food and raw materials derived from the Loktak lake, which is believed to be the body of the Loktak Lairembi (Loktak goddess) herself. Loktak goddess is the symbol of the characters of independence and self-actualization of the women of Manipur.

As a fish goddess
Loktak goddess is believed to be the one who is responsible for the replenishment of the fish population in the Loktak lake. According to traditional beliefs, there is no vanishing of the fish population no matter how much they catch fishes. The identity of Loktak goddess is also sometimes believed to be associated with Meitei goddess of water, Ereima.

Guardianship
"'Loktak Imma Eikkoigidi Patna Louchani'" "'Mother Loktak is our paddy land'" The Meiteis acknowledge full reliance on the Loktak lake for their traditional occupations.
 * Meitei language quotation on the Mother Loktak :
 * English translation :

The Meitei people (living around the lake) consider the Loktak lake as their guardian. They believe the lake as their mother, as it is possible for them to depend upon the lake for their livelihoods, for their children and their family, only because of the grace bestowed upon them by the Mother Loktak.

In literature
"The Lore of Loktak In the shadows of your footsteps Many lives exist On your nature's bounty Many lives lean O, beloved mother Loktak O, beloved mother Loktak...."
 * The Lore of Loktak:


 * Description in Meitei language literary works :

In popular culture

 * Loktak Lairembee (film) (English: Lady of the Lake) : a 2016 Indian Meitei language film directed and produced by Haobam Paban Kumar.