Meetei Chanu

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.

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, 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.

""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

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.

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

- Ishorjit Chandam, organizer

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

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.

Costume-based events
The costume based events include three rounds.

Foreign delegates
In 2019, one delegate from Bangladesh and one from Assam participated in the 4th Miss Meetei Chanu beauty pageant in Manipur.

Bangladeshi delegate
Leiphrakpam Suchona Chanu from Bangladesh auditioned for the pageant, along with 50 aspirants. 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. 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. 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.”"

Notably, she won the main title of the pageant, making herself the first Bangladeshi to win the title from India.

Delegates from Assam
Longjam Rabina Chanu, 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".