Key facts about Meitei Community

About Meitei Community:

• The Meitei people, also known as the Manipuri people, are the predominant ethnic group of Manipur State.
• They speak the Meitei language (officially called Manipuri), one of the 22 official languages of India and the sole official language of Manipur State.
• Distribution:
  • The Meiteis primarily settled in the Imphal Valley region in modern-day Manipur, though a sizable population has settled in the other Indian states of Assam, Tripura, Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Mizoram. 
  • There is also a notable presence of Meitei in the neighbouring countries of Myanmar and Bangladesh. 
  • The Meitei ethnic group represents about 53% of Manipur's population.
• Clans: They are divided into clans, the members of which do not intermarry.
• Economy: Rice cultivation on irrigated fields is the basis of their economy. 
• Religion: A majority follow Hinduism, while more than 8% are Muslims.

What is Yaoshang Festival?

• It is celebrated by the Meitei people at the same time as Holi and is known as ‘Manipur’s version of Holi’.
• The five-day-long celebration begins with the burning of ‘yaoshang’(a small thatch hut/straw hut), which is constructed with bamboo and straws on the first day.
• The highlight of the festival is the ThabalChongba, a traditional Manipuri folk dance where boys and girls hold hands and sing and dance in a circle. 
• The festival marks the rejuvenation of the spirit of life and commemorates the birthday of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.