Meitei people
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Meitei people |
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The Meitei people, Meetei,
Endonyms and exonyms
The Meitei are known by a number of
Geographical distribution
India
Manipur
The Indian state of Manipur has the largest Meitei population among all its geographical distribution.[20]
Assam
Meitei people are the third largest ethnic group, after Bengalis and Hindi speaking people, in the Barak Valley region of Assam state of India.[21]
Bangladesh
The population of Meiteis are found in four districts of Sylhet Division in Bangladesh, namely Sylhet District (thirteen villages), Moulvibazar District (twenty-eight vilalges), Sunamganj District (three villages) and Habiganj District (four villages). In early times, there were Meitei population in Dhaka, Mymensingh and Comilla also.[22]
Myanmar
Myanmar has a significant population of Meitei people in
Origins and history
"The beginning of this old
—Suniti Kumar Chatterji, Padma Vibhushan awardee Indian scholar
The earliest sections of the Cheitharol Kumbaba, a Meitei chronicle, record the gradual spread of Meiteis across Kangleipak (Meitei for 'Manipur') and their assimilation of other clans into a confederacy.[27][28]
In Kangleipak (Manipur)
In 1100 CE,
In Myanmar (Burma)
Myanmar is home to a sizeable community of Meiteis, who are called Kathe in Burmese.[34] Unlike other Hindu communities in Myanmar, the Meitei resemble other Burmese ethnic groups in terms of physical appearance, which has accelerated their assimilation and integration into Burmese society.[34] In the early 1950s, Burmese Meiteis numbered approximately 40,000, with a third of them residing in Mandalay.[35] Current estimates are approximately 25,000.[11] Meiteis have resettled throughout the country, including in villages near Myitkyina to the north, Homalin, Kalewa, Pyay, in the center of the country, and Yangon to the south.[35] They continue to practice Hinduism in Myanmar.[36]
As a result of wars between Meitei kingdom and the
Language and writing systems
The Meitei people speak the Meitei language (also known as the Manipuri language), a Tibeto-Burman language. Meitei is one of the languages with legal status in India, and was included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India in 1992.[39]
There are many Meitei language movements, including classical language movement (predominantly in Manipur] ), associate official language movement (in Assam), linguistic purism movement (predominantly in Manipur), etc.
Historically and then after a long gap, presently, Meitei was written in the indigenous
Literature
Among the heritage of diverse literary works in Meitei literature, the
Culture
Architectural designs and sculptures
Some of the significant intricate designs of the traditional
Classical and folk dances, festivals and ritualistic theatres
The
The
Theatre and cinema
The first
Golden Montgolfiere at the Nantes
World classic in the Cannes
Achievements in the National Film Awards
Religions and beliefs
According to the 2011 census, 83.38% of Meiteis practice Hinduism, around 16% of Meiteis follow the traditional Sanamahi religion, about 8% follow Islam[64] and are known as Meitei Pangals, and about 1.06% are Christians.[65] Meiteis follow both Hinduism as well as Sanamahi religious traditions and rituals. For example, they worship Sanamahi in the south-west corners of their homes.[66]
Calendar
The Meitei people follow a traditional calendar called Maliyafam Palcha Kumsing, which has 12 months and a 7-day week.[67]
Cuisine
Rice, vegetables and fish are staple food of the Meiteis, although meat is also consumed but in traditional meitei dishes meat is never used in non-veg dishes. In traditional and cultural gatherings fish, snails, oysters, crabs, eels etc are the only non-veg used and a significant number of meiteis follow it where meat is cooked and eaten outside the house if consumed. Rice is the main carbohydrate source in a Meitei dish served with vegetables, fish, freshwater snails, crabs, oyesters, eels etc. Among the most famous species of fishes Manipuri Sareng (Wallago attu) or commonly known as Helicopter catfish, Hilsa (ilish Tenualosa ilisha), freshwater snails (pila (gastropod)) and edible oysters are considered a delicacy. The vegetables are either made as stews (Kangsoi) with less oil/no oil used in sauteing, or stir fried directly in oil with various added spices to make an oily spicy side dish (Kanghou). Roasted/Smoked and Sun-dried fish or fried fresh fish is usually added in most of the stews and curry to impart special taste. The vegetables, herbs and fruits consumed in the region are more similar to those in Southeast/East/Central Asian, Siberian, Arctic, Polynesian and Micronesian cuisines such as Myanmar, Thailand, Inuit, etc. E.g. treebean (yongchak), galangal (loklei), culantro (awa phadigom), lime basil (mayangton), fishwort (tokningkhok) and many others, which are not cultivated in northern India. One of the most important ingredients in Meitei cooking is Ngari (fermented fish). Roasted ngari is used in the singju (a kind of salad), morok metpa (chilli chutney), eromba (boiled and mashed veggies with chillies). A variety of fermented bamboo shoots (soibum) as well as fresh bamboo shoots (Ushoi/Shoidon), and fermented soya beans (hawaijaar) also form an important part of Meitei cuisines. All meals are served with some fresh aromatic herbs on the side.
A typical every day Meitei meal will have rice, vegetable or fish curry, a piquant side dish (either morok metpa or eromba accompanied with herbs), a champhut (a steamed/boiled vegetable with little sugar, e.g., carrot, pumpkin or cucumber slices or steamed/boiled mustard green stems, etc without sugar), and a Kanghou. Meat cuisines are also popular amongst the Meiteis and some of the common meat curries are Yen Thongba (Chicken Curry) and Nganu Thongba (Duck Curry) and depending on regions Oak Thongba(Pork curry) and Shan Thongba(Beef curry).
Subsistence
The Meitei are mainly agriculturists in which rice is a staple crop. However, they also grow mangoes, lemons, pineapples, oranges, guavas, and other fruits. Fishing is also common among the Meitei that can either be a profession or a hobby. Women tend to dominate the local markets as sellers of food items, textiles, and traditional clothing.[68]
Notable people
Associations and organisations
Society-based
Language-based
Religion-based
- International Sanamahism Students' Association
- Lainingthou Sanamahi Sana Pung
- Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple Board
- South East Asia Cultural Organisation
See also
Notes
References
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Listed as Manipuri in the 2011 Indian census
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P.20: "historically, academically and conventionally Manipuri prominently refers to the Meetei people."
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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.
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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...
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{{cite journal}}
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H. Anganghal Singh's Khamba Thoibi Sheireng (Poem on Khamba Thoibi, 1940) is a national epic of the Manipuris based on the story of Khamba and Thoibi of Moirang. The poet composes the whole epic in the Pena Saisak style of folk ballads sung by minstrels or bards popular in Manipur.
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His epic Singel Indu was published in 1938 which was followed by his magnum opus Khamba Thoibi Sheireng (1940), a poem of 39000 lines, considered to be the 'national' epic of the Manipuris, written in the Pena Saisak style of folk ballads.
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His best work, Khamba Thoibi sheireng, in 39,000 lines on the story of 'Khamba and Thoibi' was started in 1939 and the composition was completed in 1940.
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{{cite book}}
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