Meitei festivals

These festivals reflect the unique customs and traditions of the Meitei community, and are celebrated with great enthusiasm and zeal.

[11] Heikru Hidongba (ꯍꯩꯀ꯭ꯔꯨ ꯍꯤꯗꯣꯡꯕ), the annual royal boat racing festive event (a typical Hiyang Tannaba), falls on the 11th lunar day of the Langban month of the Meitei year.

[12][13] It is a socio-religious ceremony performed every year at the moat of the Sagolband Bijoy Govinda Leikai, Imphal on the 11th day of the Meitei calendar month Langban (coinciding with September) with elements of religious, custom and other traditional belief of creation.

The festival accompanies several rites and rituals, along with various divine dance and music performances held at the Sana Konung, the Royal Palace of Manipur at Imphal..[20][21][22] The setting free of the crow is performed at the Thangapat, the Royal Moat, in Imphal.

[28][29] On this day, all the hill tribes came down to the valley of Imphal, and gather at the Royal Palace, and show their cultural dances and other art forms.

The day ends with a grand feast, held together with the Meitei people and the tribes, to show solitude, oness of all the ethnic groups in the region.

It is on this day that the married ladies compulsory visit their parental house to dine with their paternal family members, especially brothers.

[34] The festival is celebrated in the theme of strengthening of the bond of love between married ladies (ningol) and their paternal families.

[44] The Hiyangthang Lairembi Temple in Imphal West district is the largest site for the festival in Manipur.

Due to its coincidence with the timing of Holi, people imitate the Hindu culture of using colors to spray among one another.