Women have significant roles in different elements of

Meitei culture The culture of Meitei civilization evolved over thousands of years in what is now northeastern India and surrounding regions, beginning in Ancient Kangleipak, continuing most notably into Medieval Kangleipak, while influencing the neighboring sta ...

, including

Meitei dances (; ) refers to the arts of dance in Meitei culture. General rules and guidelines Eye contact In the performances of traditional Meitei dances, dancers are strictly forbidden not to have any forms of eye contact with the audiences. If it is ...

Meitei festivals Meitei festivals are an integral part of the cultural heritage of the Meitei people, an ethnic group native to the Indian state of Manipur. The festivals often celebrate events from Ancient Kangleipak, Ancient Manipur and often coinciding with ...

Meitei folklore Meitei folklore is the folklore and mythology of the Meitei people of Manipur Manipur () is a state in northeastern India with Imphal as its capital. It borders the Indian states of Assam to the west, Mizoram to the south, and Nagal ...

Meitei folktales The Meitei folktales (), also sometimes referred to as the Manipuri folktales, are the large collections of folk stories developed from the Meitei culture since Ancient Kangleipak (early Manipur). Folktales are called "funga wari" ("phunga ...

Meitei literature Meitei literature, also known as Manipuri literature, is literature written in the Meitei language of Manipur. An ancient institution of learning, the ''Luwang Nonghumsang'', later known as the ''Pandit Loishang'', collected sources of indige ...

Meitei mythology Meitei mythology (or Manipuri mythology) () is a collection of myths, belonging to the religious and cultural traditions of the Meitei people, the predominant ethnic group of Manipur. It is associated with traditional Meitei religion of Sanam ...

Meitei religion Sanamahism , also known as Meiteism , or Lainingthouism is an ethnic religion of the Meitei people of Manipur, in Northeast India. It is a polytheistic religion and is named after Lainingthou Sanamahi, one of the most important deities of ...

, etc.

Women as goddesses

Besides natural elements and phenomena personified as divine feminine beings, venerated and worshipped by the

Meitei people The Meitei people, also known as Meetei people,P.20: "historically, academically and conventionally Manipuri prominently refers to the Meetei people."P.24: "For the Meeteis, Manipuris comprise Meeteis, Lois, Kukis, Nagas and Pangal." are a Ti ...

, many women are also deified to the same status. The personality of Imoinu,

Panthoibi Panthoibi (, ), also known as , is a goddess associated with civilization, courage, fertility, handicraft, love, victory, warfare and wisdom in the mythology and religion of Ancient Kangleipak (early Manipur). She is a consort of the God Non ...

and

Phouoibi Phouoibi or Phouleima is the goddess and the female personification of the agriculture, crops, fertility, grains, harvest, paddy, rice and wealth in Meitei mythology and religion of Ancient Kangleipak (early Manipur). She is the lover of A ...

shows as well as influences the

boldness Boldness is the opposite of shyness. To be bold implies a willingness to get things done despite risks. For example, in the context of sociability, a bold person may be willing to risk shame or rejection in social situations, or to bend rules ...

, courage, independence,

righteousness Righteousness is the quality or state of "being morally right or justifiable" rooted in religious or divine law with a broader spectrum of moral correctness, justice, and virtuous living as dictated by a higher authority or set of spiritual beli ...

and social honour of Meitei women. Leimarel Sidabi (), also known as Leimalel Sitapi (), is an ancient Meitei goddess associated with earth, nature and the household. In

and the

religion Religion is a range of social system, social-cultural systems, including designated religious behaviour, behaviors and practices, morals, beliefs, worldviews, religious text, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics in religion, ethics, or ...

of Ancient Kangleipak (early

Manipur Manipur () is a state in northeastern India with Imphal as its capital. It borders the Indian states of Assam to the west, Mizoram to the south, and Nagaland to the north and shares the international border with Myanmar, specifically t ...

), she is the highest female divinity as well as is revered as the mother of every living being in the universe. Imoinu, also spelled as Emoinu (), is an ancient Meitei goddess, associated with household,

hearth A hearth () is the place in a home where a fire is or was traditionally kept for home heating and for cooking, usually constituted by a horizontal hearthstone and often enclosed to varying degrees by any combination of reredos (a low, partial ...

, family,

fireplace A fireplace or hearth is a structure made of brick, stone or metal designed to contain a fire. Fireplaces are used for the relaxing ambiance they create and for heating a room. Modern fireplaces vary in heat efficiency, depending on the design. ...

, kitchen, wealth, peace and prosperity. In

and

of Ancient Kangleipak ( Antique Manipur), she is also identified as a form of goddess Leimarel Sidabi. In

and

of Ancient Kangleipak (early

(, ), also known as , is an ancient Meitei goddess associated with civilization, courage, fertility, handicraft, love, victory, warfare and wisdom. She is considered to be a divine incarnation of goddess Leimarel Sidabi as well as that of Nongthang Leima. In

and

of Ancient Kangleipak (early

, also known as Phouleima, is an ancient Meitei goddess associated with agriculture, crops, fertility, grains, harvest, paddy, rice and wealth.

Women in Meitei literature

The Meitei Chanu (poem) depicts the feminization of the

Meitei language Meitei (; ) also known as Manipuri ), is a Tibeto-Burman language of northeast India. It is the official language and the lingua franca of Manipur and an additional official language in four districts of Assam. It is one of the scheduled ...

and

. Its opening lines notably shows the idea of a culture that is prevalent in the form of a shrine (). The very literary temple refers to the remaining empty without a goddess () for a very long period of time. This

metaphor A metaphor is a figure of speech that, for rhetorical effect, directly refers to one thing by mentioning another. It may provide, or obscure, clarity or identify hidden similarities between two different ideas. Metaphors are usually meant to cr ...

shows significant transformation in history as "Ema" () or the "Meitei Chanu" () re-occupies the temple. The reasons why she could enter into her past shrine once again are because of the

western education Western education is the form of education that mainly originated in or is characteristic of the Western world. History Ancient era Medieval era Modern era Pre-contemporary history outside of the West The introduction of Western ...

, their imitations and the feminization of language and literature.

Women in music

In traditional music

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 (), a traditional Meitei folk singer and artist of the "Laihui" (). Mangka is re-popularising the nearly extinct art form among the present youth once again.

Women's only market

The

Ima Market The Ima Market (; literally, Mothers' Market), also known as the Nupi Keithel () or the Khwairamband Keithel (), is a women-only market in the middle of Imphal in the state of Manipur. It is the only market in the world run entirely by women. In ...

(), also known as the or the , in

Imphal Imphal (; , ) is the capital city of the Indian state of Manipur. The metropolitan centre of the city contains the ruins of Kangla Palace (officially known as Kangla Fort), the royal seat of the former Kingdom of Manipur, surrounded by a ...

, is the only market in the world run entirely by women. Inside the market, male shopkeepers and vendors are not allowed to sell anything. The three major building complexes of the Ima Market are named after three prominent ancient Meitei goddesses, who are Leimarel Sidabi (for Market No. 1), Emoinu/ Imoinu (for Market No. 2) and

(for Market No. 3). Ima Keithel is a classic example of the long-lasting tradition of business management done by Meitei women in

. 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. In history, it is the symbol of the

empowerment Empowerment is the degree of autonomy and self-determination in people and in communities. This enables them to represent their interests in a responsible and self-determined way, acting on their own authority. It is the process of becoming strong ...

and the leadership prospects of Meitei women in

Women's rebellions

Women in sports

In traditional sports

In non traditional sports

Women torch bearers

The are traditional Meitei women's social organisations and their movements in

.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 The Indian Army (IA) (ISO 15919, ISO: ) is the Land warfare, land-based branch and largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Commander-in-Chief, Supreme Commander of the Indian Army, and its professional head ...

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

. They are called the ''"Guardians of the society"''. The name comes from the burning

torch A torch is a stick with combustible material at one end which can be used as a light source or to set something on fire. Torches have been used throughout history and are still used in processions, symbolic and religious events, and in juggl ...

es that the women carry. The torch has become the symbol of peaceful protest for justice at all levels of life.

Women in extravaganzas

Miss Meetei Chanu, also spelled as Miss Meitei Chanu, is an international annual beauty pageant that is run by the

based '' Lainingthou Sanamahi Sana Pung'' (LSSP), aiming to make Meitei women understand the culture and tradition of

Sanamahism Sanamahism , also known as Meiteism , or Lainingthouism is an ethnic religion of the Meitei people of Manipur, in Northeast India. It is a polytheistic religion and is named after Lainingthou Sanamahi, one of the most important deities of ...

(

traditional Meitei religion Sanamahism , also known as Meiteism , or Lainingthouism is an ethnic religion of the Meitei people of Manipur, in Northeast India. It is a polytheistic religion and is named after Lainingthou Sanamahi, one of the most important deities of t ...

Notes

References

{{Authority control Women in mythology Women and religion Women in society

Women as goddesses

Women in Meitei literature

Women in music

In traditional music

Women's only market

Women's rebellions

Women in sports

In traditional sports

In non traditional sports

Women torch bearers

Women in extravaganzas

See also

Notes

References