Meitei intangible cultural heritage

National List for Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH)

Traditional Craftsmanship

Music of Pena

Pena (musical instrument) is single stringed. It has two parts. One part is a bamboo pole attached to a coconut shell. The other part is the pena cheijing (Meitei for 'chorr'). It acts as a bow used to give friction on the string. A Pena Asheiba/Pena Khongba (Meitei for 'pena player') sings songs while playing the musical instrument. Pena is an inseparable part of Meitei civilization. It is used in ritualistic functions like Lai Haraoba, Lai Ikouba, etc.

Applique art

In Meitei culture, through the art of applique, decorative effects are achieved by superposing patches of coloured fabrics on a basic fabric, with the stitching of the edges of the patches. This unique art from is distinctively different from the modern day patchwork, in which small pieces of cut clothes are connected side by side, so as to make a bigger form of cloth, or for renovating a ragged cloth. In fact, it is the application of smaller ornaments or devices into bigger articles. It can be particularly seen in costumes of Meitei classical dance forms such as Khamba Thoibi classical dance, Maibi Jagoi (Meitei for 'Priestesses' dance'), etc.

Performing arts

Thok Leela

Thok Leela is a traditional Meitei satire, wit and comedy theatre of Manipur. It mocks the social conditions, the royal courtiers and the rulers. The talented actors with their repartee produce mocking, humorous, ironical, exaggerated, comic and rollicking effects. It has no written theatrical texts. It depends on the self generated exercise of the artist's skills, humour and intellect, focusing on the theme for the storyline. The Meitei language word "thok" means 'at random'. Thus, "Thok Leela" means a randomly performed satirical comedy play, with no written scripts and no directors. The only support of the actors is the advice of the elders and the teachers. It is a union of "the critical and the humourist". It produces a big humorous temperament. Its common character includes pastiche. It aims whatever is ridiculous or unseemly.

Social practices, rituals and festive events

Sankirtan

Meitei Sankirtana (alias Manipuri Sankirtana) is the artistic manifestation of the worshipping culture of the Meitei people (Manipuri people). It is regarded as the visible form of God, in Meitei culture. Regarding the art form, the Ministry of Culture (India) states the following:

“... Woven within the framework of sacrosanct rituals and ceremonies the art consists of narrative singing and dancing. Always performed in a Mandala (circular area) inside a Mandapa (hall) attached to a temple or erected in a courtyard. The rituals and formalities are strict and even the audience are seated according to set rules. It employs musical instruments like drums and cymbals. The artistes play these instruments and dance at the same time. An artiste spends a life-time specializing only in one aspect.”

— Ministry of Culture (India)

Death rites of Phayeng

The Chapka Phayeng people of Manipur are a part of the Meitei people itself. But they have a unique culture of burying the death. Shikaplon is a tradition of “requiem and a funeral march”, along with Khousaba (Meitei for 'martial movement'). According to their beliefs, in the afterlife, people go to the Khamnung Sawa (Meitei for 'netherworld') to unite with their ancestors. Among the mourning people during the time of burial, one of them should sing the Shikaplon, which gives instructions to the journey of the dead person to the underworld. The pena (musical instrument) should be played by the singer while singing the Shikaplon.

Another funeral tradition is the accompanying of a very rare martial art form known as Yenpha Khousa. Yenpha Khousa is a form of Ta Khousaba. It is performed by young, close relative of the departed. It is performed with spear and shield.

National Inventory of ICH

The National Inventory of the intangible cultural heritage of India includes some Meitei intangible cultural heritage too, which are Lai Haraoba, folklore of Moirang, Meitei Sankirtana, Shikalpan and Khousaba (ritual ceremony of the dead people of Phayeng caste), and the making of Pena (musical instrument).