User:Haoreima/Meitei art and culture

The Meitei language (officially called Manipuri language) speaking people, the predominant ethnic group of Kangleipak, has distinct art and culture.

Folklore, mythology and religion
Sanamahism (ꯁꯅꯥꯃꯍꯤ ꯂꯥꯏꯅꯤꯡ) or Meiteism (ꯃꯩꯇꯩ ꯂꯥꯏꯅꯤꯡ) or Lainingthouism (ꯂꯥꯏꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧ ꯂꯥꯏꯅꯤꯡ) is an ethnic religion of the Meitei people. It is a polytheistic religion and is named after God Lainingthou Sanamahi, one of the most important deities of the Meitei faith.

On 5th of August 2022, the Manipur State Legislative Assembly had a resolution to record the Sanamahi religion in the census data with a separate unique code as an officially recognised minority religion of India. In the past, on 31st of July 2002 and on 1st of August 2003, the Manipur State Legislative Assembly had adopted other similar resolutions to have a unique separate code for the religion but remain unsuccessful due to the lack of approval from the Central Government of India.

Festivals

 * Imoinu Iratpa (Emoinu Eratpa)
 * Heikru Hidongba
 * Kwaak Taanba
 * Mera Chaorel Houba
 * Mera Hou Chongba
 * Ningol Chakouba
 * Panthoibi Iratpa
 * Sajibu Nongma Panba
 * Sanamahi Ahong Khong Chingba
 * Yaosang

Cuisine

 * Eromba
 * Hentak
 * Singju

Language and literature
Meitei language (officially called Manipuri language) is a Sino-Tibetan language of Tibeto-Burman linguistic branch. It is the lingua franca and the official language of Manipur state of Northeast India and one of the 22 official languages of the Indian Republic. Historically, it was the court language of the Manipur Kingdom in accordance to the Manipur State Constitution Act 1947 until Manipur gets merged into the Indian Union in the year 1949.

The Meitei Language Day (Manipuri Language Day) is observed on the 20th of August every year, to mark the inclusion of the language in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India.

In India, Meitei people face several Meitei language movements. The Scheduled language movement was successful. Presently, there are three ongoing Meitei linguistic movements, which are Meitei classical language movement, Meitei associate official language movement and Meitei linguistic purism movement.

Meitei is written in both Meitei script as well as Eastern Nagari script (Bengali script).

"“Among the various Tibeto-Burman languages, the most important and in literature certainly of much greater importance than Newari, is the Meitei or Manipuri language.” “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.”"

- Suniti Kumar Chatterjee

Meitei literature (Manipuri literature) is one of the 24 recognised literatures by the Sahitya Akademi, India's national academy of letters.

The ancient epics like the Numit Kappa and the Epic cycles of incarnations (including the Khamba Thoibi) are some of the good examples of the classical Meitei literature.

The Meitei translations and literary adaptations of the Mahabharata are some of the classics of medieval and modern times. Besides, there are several epics in Meitei literature.

Classical dance
Manipuri Raas Leela, the Manipuri classical dance, was developed by Meitei King Rajarshi Bhagyachandra (Ching-Thang Khomba), the Maharaja of Manipur Kingdom. It is one of the 8 major classical dances of India, as officially recognised by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, the national academy of performing arts in India. It focuses on the Lila of the Rasa (aesthetics) of the Radha Krishna and the Gopis.

Music
Pena (musical instrument), a traditional Meitei string instrument, is one of the most well known musical instruments in Meitei musical world. It is most popularly used in Lai Haraoba, the religious ritual festival of Sanamahism, the traditional Meitei religion.

There are 9 important categories of musical genres associated with the Pena (musical instrument), performed in the Lai Haraoba. These are (1) Tengtharol or Shikaplol, (2) Panthoibi Seisak or Kalen Seijing, (3) Kalen Seiding or Khutlang Eshei, (4) Leimarel Seisak, (5) Ayang Leima Seisak, (6) Nongthang Leima Seisak, (7) Lamin or Pi-thadoi, (8) Anoirol Seisak or Hepli Seisak and (9) Ngangak or Haisak.

Sports and martial arts
"“Polo can be traced to origins in Manipur state c. 3100 B.C., when it was played as Sagol Kangjei. Other claims are of it being of Persian origin, having been played as pulu c. 525 B.C.”"

- Guinness World Records

Journalism
Meitei language newspapers are either printed in Meitei script or in Bengali script or even in both. All Manipuri language newspapers will be using the Meitei script (Meetei Mayek) instead of Bengali script from January 15, 2023, in accordance to a joint meeting consensus of the "Meetei Erol Eyek Loinasillol Apunba Lup" (MEELAL), the "All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union" (AMWJU) and the "Editors' Guild Manipur" (EGM) in Imphal.