Meitei people in Tripura explained

Group:Tripura Meiteis
(Meitei people in Tripura)
Native Name Lang:mni
Flag:Flag of Kangleipak.svg
Flag Caption:Cultural flag of the Meiteis
Total:23,779
Total Year:2020
Total Source:[1]
Total Ref:[2]
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Total3 Year:-->
Total3 Source:-->
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Region33:-->
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Languages: Meitei language
Religions:Majority:
Hinduism
Minority:
Related Groups:other Indian people

The Meitei people (mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯃꯩꯇꯩ ꯀꯥꯡꯂꯨꯞ), also called Manipuri people (mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯤ ꯀꯥꯡꯂꯨꯞ), is one of the minority ethnic groups in Tripura. Meiteis call the land of Tripura as "Takhel" (mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯇꯈꯦꯜ) or "Takhen" (mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯇꯈꯦꯟ) in their language.[3] [4] In September 2020, their population was estimated to be approximately 23,779.[5]

In Agartala, the capital city of Tripura, Meitei speaking population is the fourth largest linguistic group of people, after Bengalis, Tripuris and Hindi speakers, according to 2011 census.[6]

The Tripura Meiteis are recognized under the OBC category in Tripura.[7]

History

See main article: History of Tripura and History of Manipur.

There were royal matrimonial alliances between the royal houses of Tripura and Manipur during the days of monarchies. Numerous Meitei women became queens of Tripura kingdom. Kings of Tripura married not only Meitei princesses but also many Meitei girls from the commoners' families. Numerous Meitei queens of Tripura contributed to the public welfare works of the kingdoms. These frequent marriage alliances not only brought good relationship between the two kingdoms but also the cultural assimilation of Meitei culture with Tripuri culture. Besides the royalties, the tradition of marrying Meitei ladies were even practised by many nobles of Tripura. The Meitei subjects of these Meitei queens came from Manipur and settled in Tripura. These started the early settlements of the Meiteis in the land of Tripura.[8] [9] [10]

Language

See main article: Meitei language in Tripura. Meitei language (mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯃꯩꯇꯩ ꯂꯣꯟ), also known as the Manipuri language (mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯤ ꯂꯣꯟ),[11] is one of the seven officially declared minority languages, besides Kokborok and Bengali, recognised by the Government of Tripura.Its promotion and development are done by the Directorate of Kokborok & Other Minority Languages, established in August 2012.[12]

Meitei language was introduced in Tripura University since 2023.[13]

Displacement

A militant group named "National Liberation Front of Tripura" targeted and forcibly displaced numerous minority Meiteis, especially peasants, from their settlements to other places in Tripura.[14]

There were around 150 Meitei villages in Tripura during independence of India (1947), but the number reduced to less than 100 in the 2010s. Mekhli Para was founded in 1798, and was first inhabited by Meiteis, but it does not have any Meetei inhabitants in the 2010s.[15] [16]

Culture

See main article: Meitei culture.

Clothing

Innaphi (mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯏꯟꯅꯐꯤ) is a traditional Meitei cloth. A Meitei woman from Tripura, achieved the National Handloom Award 2023 given by the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India for her exceptional craftsmanship and dedication to the traditional art of handloom weaving Innaphi attires.[17]

Meitei women wear numerous traditional clothes such as Rani Phi (mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯔꯥꯅꯤ ꯐꯤ), Wangkhei Phi (mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯋꯥꯡꯈꯩ ꯐꯤ), Moirang Phi (mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯃꯣꯏꯔꯥꯡ ꯐꯤ), Phige (mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯐꯤꯒꯦ) and Phanek (mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯐꯅꯦꯛ). Meitei menfolk wear Khudei (mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯈꯨꯗꯩ).[18]

Festivals

See main article: Meitei festivals. Tripura Government recognised Meitei festival of Umang Lai Haraoba (Lai Haraoba dedicated to the Umang Lais) as one of their state festivals in 2015.[19] Some of its celebrations are helped by the Department of Information and Cultural Affairs, Government of Tripura, alongside the traditional Meitei religious institutions.[20]

Monuments

Statue of Paona Brajabashi

In April 2019, Manipuri Literary and Cultural Forum, Tripura and Paona Brajabashi Foundation Tripura, together opened a statue of Paona Brajabasi (mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯄꯥꯎꯅꯥ ꯕ꯭ꯔꯖꯕꯥꯁꯤ), a Meitei freedom fighter, to the public in Gouranagar, Tripura.[21]

Statue of Nupi Lan

In 2023, All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO) and Manipuri Literary & Cultural Forum, Tripura, collectively opened a statue of Nupi Lan (mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯅꯨꯄꯤ ꯂꯥꯟ) to the public, at Gournagar in Khowai district, Tripura.[22]

Performing arts

Manipuri Raas Leela (mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯖꯒꯣꯏ ꯔꯥꯁ) is celebrated as a big festival by the Meitei Hindus in Tripura.[23] Wari Leeba (mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯋꯥꯔꯤ ꯂꯤꯕ) is a traditional Meitei storytelling art tradition. Its popularity is declining among the Meiteis of Tripura.[24] [25]

Religions

See main article: Traditional Meitei religion and Meitei Hindus.

Daughters of the Meitei kings of Manipur, who became queens of Tripura, built numerous temples and established multiple cults of different deities in Tripura. Among the Hindu deities, the cults of Krishna, Radha, Madhav, Govinda, etc. were established.[26] The pantheon of Meitei deities of traditional Meitei religion (Sanamahism) is also kept alive by the Meiteis in Tripura. Notably, the Lai Haraoba (mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯂꯥꯏ ꯍꯔꯥꯎꯕ) religious festival is annually celebrated in honour of numerous deities, especially God Puthiba (mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯂꯥꯏꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧ ꯄꯨꯊꯤꯕ).[27] [28] [29] [30]

Groups

Notable people

See also

References

[39] Khoisnam Birola appointed Manipuri Language Advisory Board member (03 Apr 2023), The Sangai Express,

Notes and References

  1. Web site: C-16 Population By Mother Tongue - Tripura . census.gov.in . 29 September 2020 . 10 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210410152742/https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-16/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-1600.XLSX . live .
  2. Web site: C-16 Population By Mother Tongue - Tripura . census.gov.in . 29 September 2020 . 10 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210410152742/https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-16/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-1600.XLSX . live .
  3. Web site: Sharma . H. Surmangol . 2006 . . Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary . 2024-05-29 . dsal.uchicago.edu . 74 . mni, en . takhel ꯇꯈꯦꯜ /tə.kʰel/ n. a former name of present Tripura (a northeast state of India), as known to the Manipuris..
  4. Web site: Tripura Meiteis living in misery, want Manipur government to look into the matter : 19th aug19 ~ E-Pao! Headlines. 2024-09-28. e-pao.net.
  5. Web site: C-16 Population By Mother Tongue - Tripura . census.gov.in . 29 September 2020 . 10 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210410152742/https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-16/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-1600.XLSX . live .
  6. Web site: 52nd Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India. nclm.nic.in. Ministry of Minority Affairs. 7 December 2018. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20170525141614/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf. 25 May 2017.
  7. Web site: Press. Imphal Free. 2013-03-25. Meitei Manipuris in Tripura: lost moorings and old ties – KanglaOnline. 2024-09-28. en-US.
  8. Bhattacharjee. Dr Bishwajit. Matrimonial Alliances between the royal houses of Tripura and Manipur in the days of monarchy. Academia.
  9. Singha. Memchaton. Manipuri Queens in the Royal House of Tripura. Academia.
  10. Web site: Singha. Memchaton. Matrimonial Alliances between the Royal Houses of Tripura and Manipur in the Days of Monarchy. 2489572 .
  11. Web site: Manipuri language Manipuri language Meitei, India, Tibeto-Burman Britannica. www.britannica.com. 15 August 2024 . en.
  12. Web site: Aboutus Directorate of Kokborok & Other Minority Languages. kokborokoml.tripura.gov.in.
  13. Web site: TU to introduce Manipuri language, dance : 20th jul23 ~ E-Pao! Headlines. 2024-09-28. e-pao.net.
  14. Web site: TRIPURA REBELS TARGET MANIPURIS.
  15. Web site: Tripura Meiteis living in misery, want Manipur government to look into the matter : 19th aug19 ~ E-Pao! Headlines. 2024-09-28. e-pao.net.
  16. Web site: Takhellambam. Rabi. 2019-08-18. Tripura Meiteis living in misery, want Manipur government to look into the matter. 2024-09-28. News from Manipur - Imphal Times. en-US.
  17. Web site: Irom. Bit. 2024-07-29. Two Meitei women from Manipur and Tripura gets National Handloom Award. 2024-09-28. NORTHEAST NOW. en-US.
  18. Web site: Meeteis in Tripura longing to learn making of traditional attires : 21st aug19 ~ E-Pao! Headlines. 2024-09-29. e-pao.net.
  19. Web site: Press. Imphal Free. 2015-01-14. Tripura govt lists Meitei Lai Haraoba as state holiday – KanglaOnline. 2024-09-28. en-US.
  20. Web site: Arora. Sumit. 2020-01-03. 'Lai Haraoba' ritualistic festival begins in Tripura. 2024-09-28. adda247. en-IN.
  21. Web site: Paona Brajabashi statue unveiled in Tripura : 24th apr19 ~ E-Pao! Headlines. e-pao.net.
  22. Web site: Nupilan statue unveiled at Gournagar. www.thesangaiexpress.com. en.
  23. Web site: Das. Pinaki. 2023-11-27. Manipuris in Tripura celebrate Maha Raas festival. 2024-09-29. Northeast Live. en-US.
  24. Web site: Wari Leeba: The Declining Storytelling Tradition of the Meiteis of Manipur and Tripura – Journal of North East India Studies. 2024-09-28. en-GB.
  25. Wari Leeba: The Declining Storytelling Tradition of the Meiteis of Manipur and Tripura Journal of North East India Studies. Academia. Singha. Sukla.
  26. Web site: Das. Pinaki. 2023-11-27. Manipuris in Tripura celebrate Maha Raas festival. 2024-09-29. Northeast Live. en-US.
  27. Web site: 2022-01-18. Tripura: 5-day Laining-thou Puthiba Lai Haraoba festival concludes. 2024-09-29. Northeast Live. en-US.
  28. Web site: 'Lai Haraoba' Festival begins in Tripura – GKToday. 2024-09-29. www.gktoday.in.
  29. Web site: CM Biren offers prayers at Lainingthou Puthiba Temple, says will set up Manipur Bhawan in Tripura. 2024-09-29. Imphal Free Press. en.
  30. Web site: Ibudhou Puthiba Haraoba festival underway in Tripura : 28th dec17 ~ E-Pao! Headlines. 2024-09-29. e-pao.net.
  31. Web site: Sharma. Kamayani. 2024-03-04. A 19th-century Indian queen's photographic work has been obscured by history. 2024-09-29. Scroll.in. en.
  32. Web site: Irom. Bit. 2023-12-21. Tripura's Sorokhaibam Gambhini bags Sahitya Akademi award for Manipuri literature. NORTHEAST NOW. en-US.
  33. Web site: Tripura poet wins Sahitya Akademi award for Manipuri composition.
  34. Web site: Sorokhaibam Gambhini to receive Sahitya Academy Award. Imphal Free Press. en.
  35. Web site: Manipuri writer Sarita Devi from Tripura takes part in All India Women Writers' meet : 10th mar19 ~ E-Pao! Headlines. e-pao.net.
  36. Web site: Irom. Bit. 2024-07-29. Two Meitei women from Manipur and Tripura gets National Handloom Award. 2024-09-28. NORTHEAST NOW. en-US.

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