Women in Meitei culture

Add links
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
"Nupi" redirects here. Not to be confused with
NUPI
.
Meetei Mayek
This article contains the Meitei alphabet. Without proper rendering support, you may see errors in display.
An illustration of a Meitei woman

Women have significant roles in different elements of

Meitei dances, Meitei festivals, Meitei folklore, Meitei folktales, Meitei literature, Meitei mythology, Meitei religion
, etc.

Women as goddesses

Further information:
Ancient Meitei goddesses

Besides natural elements and phenomena personified as divine feminine beings, venerated and worshipped by the Meitei people in Meitei religion, many women are also deified to the same status. The personality of Imoinu, Panthoibi and Phouoibi shows as well as influences the boldness, courage, independence, righteousness and social honour of Meitei women.[1]

Ancient Kangleipak (early Manipur), she is the highest female divinity as well as is revered as the mother of every living being in the universe.[2][3][4][5]

Antique Manipur), she is also identified as a form of goddess Leimarel Sidabi.[9][10]

In

ancient Meitei goddess associated with civilization, courage, fertility, handicraft, love, victory, warfare and wisdom.[11][12][13][14][15]
She is considered to be a divine incarnation of goddess Leimarel Sidabi as well as that of Nongthang Leima.[16]

In

ancient Meitei goddess associated with agriculture, crops, fertility, grains, harvest, paddy, rice and wealth.[17][18][19][20]

Women in Meitei literature

Further information: Meitei literature and Meitei Chanu (poem)

The Meitei Chanu (poem) depicts the feminization of the Meitei language and Meitei literature. Its opening lines notably shows the idea of a culture that is prevalent in the form of a shrine (Meitei: ꯂꯥꯏꯁꯡ, ꯂꯥꯏꯁꯪ, romanized: laishang[21]). The very literary temple refers to the remaining empty without a goddess (Meitei: ꯂꯥꯏꯔꯦꯝꯕꯤ, romanized: lairembi[22]) for a very long period of time. This metaphor shows significant transformation in history as "Ema" (Meitei: ꯏꯃꯥ, romanized: /í.ma/, lit. 'mother'[23]) or the "Meitei Chanu" (Meitei: ꯃꯩꯇꯩ ꯆꯅꯨ, romanized: /mə́i.təi cə.nu/, lit. 'Meitei Lady') re-occupies the temple. The reasons why she could enter into her past shrine once again are because of the western education, their imitations and the feminization of language and literature.[24]

Women in music

In traditional music

Further information: Moirang Sai, Nura Pakhang (Eu e Tu), and Shakuhachi meets Pena

In the 2010s, Ima Thoinu, a traditional Moirang Sai singer, got only a few students to learn the endangered art form, which was the only means to keep it alive. A small group of performers are again learning the nearly extinct art form of the Moirang Sai to save it from total extinction. The art form was outstandingly revived due to the hard works of Mangka Mayanglambam (Meitei: ꯃꯪꯀꯥ ꯃꯌꯥꯡꯂꯝꯕꯝ), a traditional Meitei folk singer and artist of the "Laihui" (Meitei: ꯂꯥꯏꯍꯨꯏ). Mangka is re-popularising the nearly extinct art form among the present youth once again.[25][26][27]

Women's only market

Further information: Ima Market

The

Khwairamband Market'),[28] in Imphal,[29][30] is the only market in the world run entirely by women.[31] Inside the market, male shopkeepers and vendors are not allowed to sell anything.[32]

The three major building complexes of the Ima Market are named after three prominent

Emoinu/Imoinu (for Market No. 2) and Phouoibi (for Market No. 3).[33]

Ima Keithel is a classic example of the long-lasting tradition of business management done by Meitei women in Manipur. Traditionally, Meitei women always enjoyed high status in the economy of the society. Women lead the trade and commerce in food and vegetables, household things and clothes in Meitei society.[34] In history, it is the symbol of the empowerment and the leadership prospects of Meitei women in Manipur.[35]

Women's rebellions

Further information: Nupi Lan
Manipur Kingdom
against British colonial rule c. 1904

Women in sports

In traditional sports

Further information: Manipur Statehood Day Women's Polo Tournament and Daughters of the Polo God

In non traditional sports

Further information: Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, Oinam Bembem Devi, Bombayla Devi Laishram, Laishram Sarita Devi, and Kunjarani Devi

Women torch bearers

Further information: Meira Paibi

The Meira Paibi (Meitei for 'torch holding woman') are traditional Meitei women's social organisations and their movements in Manipur.They originated during the times when there were no artificial light available or rare in Manipur, hence the womenfolk used handmade torches to light the paths. They work against many different social evils, like the misuse of military powers by the Indian Army in Manipur, India. They are called the "Guardians of the society". The name comes from the burning torches that the women carry. The torch has become the symbol of peaceful protest for justice at all levels of life.[36][37][38]

Women in extravaganzas

Further information: Meetei Chanu and Miss Kangleipak

traditional Meitei religion).[39][40][41]

See also

Notes

References

  1. ISBN 978-81-7835-803-1
    .
  2. ISBN 978-81-7099-849-5
    .
  3. ISBN 978-1-000-29637-2
    .
  4. ISBN 978-81-7387-083-5
    .
  5. ISBN 978-0-359-72919-7
    .
  6. ISBN 978-81-8400-642-1
    .
  7. ^ "A Hymn for Goddess Emoinu". e-pao.net.
  8. ^ "Meiteis celebrate Emoinu". telegraphindia.com.
  9. ISBN 978-0-359-72919-7
    .
  10. ^ "EMOINU AHONGBI THOUNIROL (A Traditional adoration to Goddess Emoinu)". e-pao.net.
  11. ^ Jain, Jyotindra (1998). Other Masters: Five Contemporary Folk and Tribal Artists of India. Crafts Museum and the Handicrafts and Handlooms Exports Corporation of India.
  12. ISBN 978-81-259-0416-8
    .
  13. ^ Session, North East India History Association (2001). Proceedings of North East India History Association. The Association.
  14. ^ Singh, R. K. Jhalajit (1992). A Short History of Manipur. R.K. Jhalajit Singh.
  15. ^ Social Movements in Contemporary India - Page 98 - Bidyut Chakrabarty, Shibani Kinkar Chaube · 1999
  16. ^ "Incarnations of Goddess Nongthang Leima by James Oinam". e-pao.net.
  17. ISBN 978-81-260-0365-5
    .
  18. ISBN 978-81-7099-849-5
    .
  19. ISBN 978-81-7099-399-5
    .
  20. ISBN 978-1-000-29637-2
    .
  21. ^ Sharma, H. Surmangol (2006). "Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary.Laishang". dsal.uchicago.edu.
  22. ^ Sharma, H. Surmangol (2006). "Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary.Lairembi". dsal.uchicago.edu.
  23. ^ Sharma, H. Surmangol (2006). "Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary.Ema". dsal.uchicago.edu.
  24. ^ Lancha, Ningthouja (2018-06-30). Kangla Lanpung Summer 2018. RK Sanatomba Memorial Trust, Palace Compound, Imphal -795001, Manipur. p. 64.
  25. ^ "Mangka sings Moirang Sai with Laihui Ensemble – Manipur's Traditional Folk Music & Dance". Retrieved 2022-12-29.
  26. ^ Shukla, Vandana (15 December 2017). "Fighting all odds and jeers, a 21-year-old woman is reviving nearly-extinct Manipuri folk songs". Scroll.in. Retrieved 2022-12-29.
  27. ^ "Glimpses of dying art form earn kudos". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 2022-12-29.
  28. ISBN 978-981-10-8485-0
    .
  29. ^ "India's Mother's Market run by women". BBC News. Retrieved 2021-09-24.
  30. ^ "Manipur's historic women's only market damaged in earthquake". The News Minute. 2016-01-04. Retrieved 2021-09-24.
  31. ISBN 978-1-946556-80-6
    .
  32. ISBN 978-1-5437-0523-2
    .
  33. ^ "Asia's largest all-women market reopens in Manipur | News - Times of India Videos". The Times of India. Retrieved 2023-04-15. ... the names of the three Ima Markets as Leimarel Sidabi Ima Keithel for Market No. 1, Imoinu Ima Keithel for Market No. 2, and Phouoibi Ima Keithel for Market No. 3.
  34. ISBN 978-1-59884-659-1
    .
  35. ISBN 978-81-8495-898-0
    .
  36. ISBN 978-81-8324-053-6
    .
  37. ISBN 978-93-91370-45-9
    .
  38. ISBN 978-81-7387-083-5
    .
  39. ^ "Contest on Meitei way of life". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 2022-06-14.
  40. ^ "Meetei Chanu 2018 | Pothashang News". Pothashang. 2018-11-01. Retrieved 2022-06-14.
  41. ^ "'MEETEI CHANU' FINAL CONTEST ON DECEMBER 23 | Pothashang News". Pothashang. 2017-12-20. Retrieved 2022-06-14.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Women_in_Meitei_culture&oldid=1227485934"