Meitei people
| Meitei people | |
|---|---|
| Total population | 1,648,000[1] |
| Regions with significant populations | Manipur |
| Language | Meitei (Manipuri) |
| Religion | Hinduism |
The Meiteis are the majority ethnic group of Manipur, and because of this are sometimes referred to as Manipuris. Generally speaking, Meitei is an endonym and Manipuri is a xenonym. The Meitei people are made up of seven clans, which trace their history back to 33 A.D (Written Record).
Society
Meitei women have always enjoyed equal status with men, and today they work in nearly every social and economic sphere of society; in particular, they control the Meitei markets and the trade in vegetables and traditional clothing. 'Nupi Keithel' is a market run by meitei women only. The traditional dress of the women folk is a sarong called "phanek". It is worn at the waist down to the ankles, or under the arms, covering the breasts and down to mid-calf. Traditionally women do not wear a blouse when the phanek is worn in the higher position. This is complemented by a blouse and a wrap. Men wear a "khudei" which is similar to the Thai and Khmer men's garment which is a knee-length cloth wrapped in folds at the waist. In recent years, men's formal wear is a longer and ankle-length version called a "pheijom" which is similar to the Indian "dhoti".
The Meitei people are well-known for their sporting prowess, hockey and polo are traditional and the Meitei form of martial art, thang ta, has recently been recognised as one of the official forms of international martial arts. 'Polo' which has well known place in international sports is known to be originated from Manipur which original name is 'Sagol Kangjei' a royal game used to be played by kings and royal persons of Manipur.
Religion
The major population is concentrated in the Imphal valley of Manipur, Cachar valley of Assam, Tripura, Bangladesh and Myanmar. Majority of the Meiteis are followers of Vaishnavite Hinduism without leaving their ancient Meitei religion "Sanamahi Laining" (Sanamahism). All the Meities are belong to their native Religion Sanamahism as a part of their livelihood. A section to almost half of total Meiteis follows Sanamahism without mixing with other religion. There are some individuals who follow religions like Christianity and the Bahá'í Faith. The original religion of the native Manipur is Sanamahism. It is still followed and worshiped by the valley and Hill based people even even though they are partially converted to Christian and Hindu in recent centuries (1800 and 1700 A.D). Revivalism of this native religion is more or less started by the growing number of educated native people to stand themself stronger in the world of religion. In the religious history of Manipur, the 14th of May, 1945, the Meetei Marup (Organisation of Meetei Body) was formed in Manipur unanimously. This lead to the revival of Meetei traditional, cultures, scripts(Meetei Mayek), customary practices, and traditional religious ceremonies related to the Meetei society. At the closed of the 20th century Sanamahism gained a strong foothold owing to the coming of modern education, increase in population and many other social factors. The gap between Sanamahism and Hinduism and Christain became almost abandon. During this period the impact of Sanamahism became more and more embedded in the hearts and mind of the people at large. As a result it gave a new hope and dimension in the process of the revivalist's movement of Sanamahism. Old beliefs and religious bindings were untied and the beliefs of emerging movement began to take their place. Many books on how to conduct religious ceremonies with rites and rituals are being published. Holy Books for Sanamahi religion were selected. All these are the advancement of the growth and development of Sanamahi religion. With the establishment of many religious organizations disposed to Sanamahism several interpretation of religious ceremonies, functions and prayers have come up. On the other hand the influence of other religion like Hindu, Christian, Islam are increasing day by day in the Hill and Valleys which is simply indicated by the growing number of Hindu Temple, Church, Mosques etc. For Meetei/Meiteis it can become a strong thread to the native religion as Native worship places are not taking care by any Govt. and Local people like other religion do.
Language
The language used is called Meiteilon. It belongs to the Tibeto-burman family of languages. Literally it means the "language of the Meiteis". But for some time now, it has been known as Manipuri. Since 1992, the language is in the 8th schedule of the Indian Constitution. Commonly the text is written in the Bengali Script. The original script, called Meitei Mayek, has been out of use for a long time but revived recently. The script and language is teaching in the School and colleges at this time in Manipur. This much improvment was strongly gain after the Meetei leader Mr. CHINGSHUBAM AKABA, who was murdered in connection with the development and popularity of his name in the state on the 31st midnight of December 2006 at his resident gate in Imphal. People are trying to bring this script upto the international standard as it is the only lone script of NE India.
Food
The favored food among the Meiteis is rice, fish and a lot of vegetables. Foot stuffs include "Ngari" meaning "Fermented preserved fish" in the native tongue. Due to the fermentation involved, Ngari has a distinct smell and taste. Manipur valley Meetei has a tradition of keeping ponds at every resident has enough preservation of water and fish as a tradition. So, when they like to eat fish dishes they can just fishing from their own ponds. A huge water accumulation in low-lying areas (swamps) as well as number of tributary streams received enough water during the rainy days mainly in the monsoons which helps fish migration and breeding. A huge varieties of fishes bears in this mentioned water bodies including paddy fields and canals. During the flood fishing is very popular in most part of the valley where fishes are wash out from private fish firms and ponds to the shallow lands surfaces but this water and fishes ultimately goes to rivers and then to the “Loktak Lake” a world famous wetland at the south western part of the Valley. Landscape, climate and vegetation, environment of the valley gives an ultimate food habit of eating fish with different varieties with time to time. For example Dry-fish “Nga Ayaiba” generally prepared drying in sun as well as on fire to preserved in earthen pots to eat during other seasons where enough fish is not available in fresh in part of the valley and foothill regions of Manipur. Examples of Nga Ayaiba are Ngamu, Ukabi, Ngachou, Ngakrijou, Fabounga, Pengba, Ngakup etc. Nga Ayaiba means a lot for Meetei food as it can give a good taste to a kind of curry called “ Kangsoi” prepared by simple boil with vegetables and peaces of Nga Ayaiba or Ngari along with salt, chilly, ginger, onion, green corianders etc. This is most popular cook food among the Meetei family as it controls overweight and fatness with good digestion capacity. The Meetei people living outside Manipur i.e., other state and Countries export the Ngari and Nga Ayaiba they feel home seek and missed home food to such this fish stuffs. Due to the dry and fried without old involved, Nga ayaiba has a distinct smell and taste. It is found in low quantities in many Meetei dishes. Another dish contains "Hawaizar", meaning, "preserved Soya-beans". Soya-bean is boiled on low heat for a time, washed, packed in leaves and let to cool down for several days where it ferments. It is wrapped in banana leaves and distributed. Both the food forms are a cottage industry in Manipur. Other world distinct dishes of Meeteis called "Eronba" a generic name of cooking which crusted boil vegetables and fermented fish with Chilly. This taste is different depend on type of vegetable we use for example with Bamboo shoot it is call “Soibum eronba ” with Gaint bean “Yongchak eronba” with young banana try “Laphu eronba” etc. Where “Ametpa or Morok Metpa and Singju” meaning dry crusted with Ngari with Chilly, Chilly with fresh vegetables is even used in the fast food in the local restaurants, it is bit hot and very tasty too. Other food stuffs are well cook with Masalas e.i., Athongba as generic term Cook with oil and masalas for example Fish dishes cook from fresh fishes with oil and proper masalas are famous for example Sareng thongba. OOTI thongaba (Pea nut and green leaves with soda (oot), Chagempomba (fine fractions of rich with Hawaizar and green vegetables” makes Meetei proud for a distinct taste to this world. Ataoba is also a generic name where every vegetables or meat are fried then we call as Ataoba. Nga-Ataoba (Fried Fish) is most popular food items among Meiteis. The word “Thakpa “ means to drink any kind of liquids and smokes. Chakmang Yoo-Thakpa is popular among the males, which means that to drink wine (Yoo) before meal. To explore Meetei dishes or food habit to this world need a good investigation of the regional food of Manipur to add into the Menu of the world food as a special Meetei Dishes like Chinese food.