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 states and kingdoms, till present times.
File:Temple of God Pakhangba of Sanamahi religion inside the Kangla Fort, Imphal West, Manipur.jpg|thumb|300px|Pakhangba Temple, Kangla, in the classical Meitei architecture, affiliated to the traditional Meitei religion
File:Stamp of Armenia - 2018 - Colnect 806145 - Indian Dance Manipuri.jpeg|thumb|300px|Armenian stamp illustrating Manipuri classical dance, the "national dance" of India, the highest spiritual expression of the worship of Hindu deity Krishna, as well as an intangible cultural heritage of Meitei civilization
File:INS Imphal crest.jpg|thumb|300px|The crest of Indian missile destroyer, INS Imphal, illustrating the and the Kanglasha dragon lion, two of the most remarkable cultural heritages of the Meitei civilization
Animals and birds
Dogs are mentioned as friends or companions of human beings, in many ancient Meitei tales and texts. In many cases, when dogs died, they were given respect by performing elaborate death ceremonies, equal to that of human beings.Being wise is appreciated in Meitei society, but cunning is treated with suspicion. If a person is very cunning, they may be pejoratively be called foxy. Foxes appear in a number of Meitei folktales, including The Clever Fox, The Fox and the Jackal, and The Fox's Trick.
Crows
Goddess of doves and pigeons
In Meitei mythology and religion, Khunu Leima, also known as Khunureima, is a goddess associated with pigeons and doves. She is one of the three dearest daughters of the sky god. Along with her two sisters, Nganu Leima and Shapi Leima, she got married the same person, who is a mortal.Pigeon in the story of Sandrembi and Chaisra
In the Meitei folktale of Sandrembi and Chaisra, Lady Sandrembi, after being killed by her stepsister and stepmother, transformed herself into a pigeon and flew into the Royal Garden of the king, her husband. She perched on a tree branch and told the Royal Gardener, about the forgetfulness of the King about his wife Queen Sandrembi, the animal epidemic happened in the kingdom, the grievances of the Prince and the loss of the gardener's own sickle in a recent past. Sandrembi told him to report these words to the King. The king, on hearing the news, came by himself, to the pigeon in the garden. Holding some grains of paddy in his hands, the King brought and kept the supernatural bird in his custody. Even as a pigeon, she took care of the Prince. During the King's absence, Chaisra slaughtered the pigeon and cooked a nice meal from the meat. Upon knowing that the food was made of the very pigeon, the king refused to dine it and buried the pigeon's remains in the ground behind the Royal Kitchen.Hornbills
The Meitei folktale of Uchek Langmeitong, also known as Chekla Langmeitong, of Ancient Kangleipak, narrates the tragic story of a mortal girl named "Hayainu", who turned herself into a as she was unable to suffer the ill treatments of her cruel and selfish stepmother, in her father's absence.Sanagi Tenawa : Golden parrot
In a Meitei folktale of a, a divine golden parrot used to live in a land of rocks. It possessed magical spells, due to which it made all the trees of the land able to talk and move like animals. The parrot was famous far and wide.In a far away kingdom, a courageous and clever prince got the news of the parrot, which he wanted to be brought to his kingdom.
Henceforth, in the dead of the night, the prince and his friend, who was a minister's son, proceeded to find the parrot, without informing his father, the king.
For three full moons of phase, they travelled until they finally reached the land of rocks. Surprised to see the rocks and the talking trees, and wandering around, they found out a door way to go inside a cave.
When the prince was about to go inside the cave, he heard a loud sound. The voice from unknown source asked him to stop going inside the cave for the parrot. Upon investigated, they found the voice was from a tree monster at the door.
The monster warned them of asking them three questions before they enter. If answered incorrectly, they would turn into stones.
The first question was 'Who is the happiest man alive?'
The prince's answer was 'One who owes no debt to anyone and who is healthy and free from any illness.'
The second question was 'What are the main qualities of a king?'
The prince's answer was 'A king should conduct according to the wishes of the people, should take care of the poor and destitute, and should treat everyone equally.'
The final question was 'Name the gods one can see one's own eyes?'
The final answer was 'One's birth parents are one's gods that they can see with their eyes.'
The tree monster was satisfied with all the correct answers and it praised the prince for his wisdom and intelligence. It allowed the prince for entry and was vanished from the spot as it was waiting for someone who could answer all the questions correctly before he leave.
Inside the cave, the golden parrot was found sitting on a golden plate, as was once being under captivity of the tree monster.
The prince was told by the parrot about the way to change the stones into princes. He had to sprinkle water of the golden pond on them.
The prince did and undo the spells/curses of the stones, bringing them back to life. The princes thanked the prince and went back to their respective kingdoms.
Finally, the parrot was brought by the prince and his friend to their kingdom.
Waterfowl
In Meitei mythology and religion, Nganu Leima, also known as Nganureima, is a goddess associated with ducks and other water birds. She is one of the three dearest daughters of the sky god. Along with her two sisters, Khunu Leima and Shapi Leima, she married the same person.Arts
Architecture
The architectural works of the Meitei ethnicity is best known through its Meitei temples as well as ancient buildings including palaces, court halls, offices, entrance gates and so on.Notable structures
Cinema
, a 1990 Indian Meitei language film, was screened in the Un Certain Regard section in the 1991 Cannes Film Festival, and again after a gap of 33 years, it was recognized as a "World Classic" in the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. Notably, it was the only film selected from India for the event in that year.Dance
The steps, gaits and poses of using and in the traditional Meitei dance-cum-martial art form of Thang-Ta form the basic foundation of the classical choreographic steps of Lai Haraoba, Manipuri Raas Leela, Meitei Sankirtana and Pung Cholom.The Manipuri classical dance, also known as the Manipuri Raas Leela, is a jagoi and is one of the major Indian classical dance drama forms, originating from.
Formally developed by Meitei Hindu King of Manipur Kingdom in the 18th century CE, the Manipuri classical dance form, which is considered to be the highest spiritual expression of the worship of Hindu deity Krishna, spreads across the Indian subcontinent in subsequent centuries. Owing to its huge influences on the diverse cultural heritages across India, it is recognised by the Sangeet Natak Akademi of the Ministry of Culture of the Government of India as one of the few primary classical dance forms of the Republic of India, and is honoured with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Manipuri every year.
Pung Cholom and Meitei Nata Sankirtana are the other classical dance forms, which are also related to the Manipuri Raas Leela.
The ritualistic and theatrical dances of the Lai Haraoba, in general and one of its primary forms, the in particular, are also considered to be classical dances. Notably, Lai Haraoba's is one of the cultural elements, giving inspirations to the development of the Manipuri Raas Leela classical dance drama form.
Dance and Music
Music
Nat is a classical form of music of Manipur. It is a product of the Sanskritisation of traditional Meitei culture with Hindu culture by the Brahmanas, having 6 ragas and 36 raginis.Contrasting to the other forms of Indian classical music, which are performed by sitting, in the Meitei Nata-Sankirtana, artists perform musical instruments as well as sing songs, simultaneously performing the delicate movements of the body and hands, based on the form of, aligning to different footsteps, based on the.
Martial arts
Sculptures
Theatre
Notable productions
Notable personalities
Meitei adaptations of classical Greco-Roman plays
Numerous theatrical plays based on Antigone, a princess from ancient Greek mythology, was and is frequently produced in Meitei language in its own adaptation, in Imphal.Malemnganbi is a Meitei adaptation of Sophocles' ancient Greek tragedy play named Antigone, rescripted by Makhonmani Mongsaba and directed by Chanam Nillabira Meitei.
In 1985–86, Lengshonnei, a play based on Antigone, adapted into Meitei language, by Ratan Thiyam, was performed in Imphal.
Some sources say that he adapted from Antigone while some others assert that it was from Antigone.
Hojang Taret is a classical Meitei language play based on Euripides's ancient Greek tragedy named "The Phoenician Women". Directed by Oasis Sougaijam and produced by The Umbilical Theatre in Imphal, the play shows the moral uncertainty of the royal sibling rivalry that led to the destruction of the ancient city of Thebes, Greece.
Bacchae is a classical Meitei language play, based on the eponymous ancient Greek tragedy, authored by Euripides, one of the 3 tragedians of classical Athens. Directed by Thawai Thiyam, the Meitei play shows the story of king Pentheus of Thebes and Olympian god Dionysus.