2019 – Posted in: STATE SERIES – Tags: andhra pradesh, Maharashtra

MANIPUR

Manipur literally meaning “A jeweled land” nestle deep within a lush green corner of North East India.

Surrounded by blue hills with an oval shaped valley at the centre, rich in art and tradition and surcharged with nature’s pristine glory. Manipur lies on a melting pot of culture.

Capital	Imphal
Date of Creation	21^st January 1972
Districts	Bishnupur, Chandel, Churachandpur, Imphal-East, Imphal-West, Senapati, Tamenglong, Thoubal, Ukhrul, Kangpokpi, Tengnoupal, Pherzawl, Noney, Kamjong, Jiribam, Kakching
State Language	Manipuri
State Emblem	Kangla Shaa
State Bird	Nongyeen
State Animal	Sangai
State Game	Manipuri Polo
State Flower	Siroi Lily
Festivals	Lai-Haraoba, Yaoshang (Dol Jatra), Ratha Jatra, Ramjan Eid, KUT (Kuki-chin-Mizo), Gang-Ngai, Chumpha, Christmas, Cheiraoba, Hekru Hidongba, Ningol Chakouba, Lui Ngai Ni, Kwak Jatra
Art & Culture	Ras Lila, Nupa Pala, Pung Cholom, Maibi dance, Khamba Thoibi dance
Tourist Attraction	Shri Shri Govindajee Temple, Saheed Minar, War Cemetery, Manipur Zoological Garden, Singda, Langthabal, Red Hikk (Maibam Lokpa Ching), Bishnuour, Loukoipat, Phubala, Moirang, Loktak Lake, Keibul Lamjao National Park, Kaina, Khongjom, Andro, Churachandpur, Tengnoupal, Moreh, Ukhrul, Tamenglong, Mao, Koubru Leikha
Dam	Thoubal Dam, Singda Dam, Khuga Dam, Khoupum Dam
Lake	Loktak The only Floating lake in the world Largest freshwater lake in North -East India
River	Barak River, Turela Achonba River
Institution	Institute of Bioresources and sustainable development
Tribes	Aimol, Angami, Gangte, Koirao, Lamgang, Maring, Monsang, Purum, Ralte, Suhte, Thadou, Zou, Tarao, Kharam

Handloom

Handloom industry is the largest cottage industry in the State. One of the special features of the industry is that women are the only weavers.
Fabrics and Shawls of Manipur are in great demand in the national and international market.
Most of the weavers who are famous for their skill and intricate designing are from Wangkhei, Bamon Kampu, Kongba, Khongman, Utlou etc. in respect of fine silk items. The rest of the villages of the State producing all varieties of fabrics.
Today, major handloom production activities are undertaken by three Government organizations namely

Manipur Development Society (MDS)

Manipur Handloom and Handicrafts Development Corporation (MHHDC)
Manipur State Handloom Weavers Co-operative Society (MSHWCS).

Handicraft

Since cane and bamboo are abundantly available basketry has been a popular occupation of the people of Manipur.
Heijing Kharai, Phiruk & Lukmai are exclusively meant for ceremonies such as wedding, birth and death. For domestic purposes baskets like Likhai, Sangbai, Chengbon, Meruk, Morah etc. are made.
Again, there are fishing equipments made of cane and bamboo. They are Longup, Tungbol etc. People of Maring tribe inhabiting the Chandel District are the main manufacturers of these types of basket. Other tribes and the Meeteis also contribute a lot to the production of baskets.
Pottery culture is very old in Manipur. Most of the pots are handmade and are of different colours (red, dark red and black). Pottery flourishes in Andro, Sekmai, Chairen, Thongjao, Nungbi and parts of Senapati District. Chakpa women are good potters and they make different types of pots are made for ritualistic and ceremonial purposes.

Flora and Fauna

State is blessed with amazing variety of flora and fauna, 67% of the geographical area of Manipur is hill tract covered forests.

Depending on the altitude of hill ranges, the climatic condition varies from tropical to sub-alpine.
The wet forests and the pine forests occur between 900-2700 m above MSL and they together sustain a host of rare and endemic plant and animal life.
Coveted the world over as some of the most beautiful and precious blooms, orchids have an aura of exotic, mysteries about them.

In Manipur, they are abound in their natural habitat growing in soil or on trees and shrubs speaking their beauty and colour, stunning the eye that is not used to seeing them. in such profusion. There are 500 varieties of orchids which grow in Manipur of which 472 have been identified

In addition to ‘Siroi Lily’ which is the only terrestrial lily grown on the hill tops of Siroi hill, Ukhrul, the Hoolock Gibbon, the Sloe Loris, the Clauded Leopard, the Spotted Linshang, Mrs. Hume’s Barbacked Pheasant, Blyths Tragopan, Burmese Pea-Fowl, four different species of Hornbills etc. form only a part of the rich natural fauna of Manipur.

However, the most unique is the Sangai the dancing deer. The floating mass of vegetation on the Loktak Lake sustains small herds of this endemic deer which unfortunately has the dubious distinction of being the most threatened Cervid (known as Phumdi) in the World. Other mentionable fauna is Salamander known as ‘Lengwa’ found at the foothill of Siroi in Ukhrul.

Noted Points

It is birth place of Polo.
Irom C Sharmila belongs to Manipur, is a political activist & was on fast (Hunger Strike) since 2000 which ended in 2016 over AFSPA 1958.

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