Manipur-the Jewel State of India.

Manipur.


Manipur. The Jewelled State of India.
Capital.Imphal.
Population. 3 million.
Area. 8628 square miles.
Languages. Manipuri
Revenue Districts.9.

Manipur is an important geographically and strategically situated state of
The Union of India with Imphal as capital and an important city of attraction.
It is bound by Nagaland on the north, Mizoram on the south, Assam on the west
And Burma on the east.


Guru Nanak visited Manipur in 1510, with him his band of followers who
were allowed to stay behind and settle in Manipur and propagate the principles
of Holy Grinth. There are about ten percent of Muslims inhabiting in the state
who are descendants of Bengal migrants known as the Pan gals.

The English while serving in India prior to independence called Manipur
“The Switzerland of India.” Manipur means the land of the Jewels.
Manipur is a land of velvet like lawns wrapped in peaceful silence.
Its alluring atmosphere of grace and majesty instantly attracts the tourists.
Manipur can boast of an exotic landscape with gently undulating Hills.
The emerald green valleys, blue lakes and dense forests are its assets.
The view is interrupted by a soft breeze that sets it apart from all others
North-Eastern states and makes it the ideal getaway.

Manipur is one of the most important states of the North East of India.
It is the jewel of the seven sisters of the East. Its city of Imphal lies in
an oval shaped valley of 700 miles surrounded by Blue Mountains at an
elevation of 800 meters above the sea level. The slope of the valley is
from north to the south. The presence of the mountain ranges prevents
cold winds from the north and acts as a barrier to cyclonic storms
originating from the Bay of Bengal.

There are four major river basins, Barak valley, Manipur basin, Yu river basin,
Lenya river basin in the north. The Barak River is the largest river of the state
originating from Manipur Hills and in the end enters the state of Assam.




The different dialects here are Manipuri, Burmese and Tibetan. The life-style
and characteristics of the people of Manipur vary from tribe to tribe
according to geographical conditions. The Meitees inhabit on the plains
live a much more easy and sophisticated life than Kukies and Nagas of the Hills.


Early Manipuri were Hindus and believed in the hierarchy of the Gods.
The advent of Christianity resulted in conversion of the Nagas and Kukis
in the Hills while majority of the Maitees living in the plains are more or
less Hindus.

Theatre and society are intimately linked in this state. Manipuri are
culturally very advanced and very enthusiastic kind of people. It is this type
of cultural spirit that has kept their lives alive and meaningful in the remoteness
from the outside world.

Theatre has remained a part of the Laiahraoaba festivals. Theatre in Manipur
is based on adaptation of religious epics. Manipuri dance is an important
school of dancing known throughout India. Themes based on the life of
Chaitanya Maha Prabhu, Asoka, Ramayana, Mahabharata are very popular.

The Chorus Theatre situated on the outskirts of Imphal is a vast campus
with housing and quarters for teachers and students involved in teaching the
Manipuri dance. A classical form of Manipuri dance centers round the theme
of episodes from the life of Lord Krishna and Gopis and love sequence of
Radha-Krishna love of devotion which forms a graceful slow movement
with elegant costumes embroidered in fast colours to enhance the beauty, and
to capture the hearts of millions of viewers through out the country and abroad.
Manipuri dance ballets have gained universal acclaim for its plays like the
“Chakravyuha”from MahaBharata, “Uttarpriyadashi” –a eighty minutes
exposition of King Asoka’s redemption.

Mukna, the Manipuri sport of wrestling is also popular through out the state.
Mukna-Kangjei combines wrestling and fighting with wood sticks is the art of
Wrestling and fighting active sport, in Hilly areas very popular through out the state.

Cheiraoba, Kut, Ramjan-Id, Yoshang, Ningoi, Chakoube, Kang, Heikru Hidoumbe
Festivals are being celebrated during the year with big pomp and grandeur.

Manipur has suffered from the point of view of standard of living and infrastructure
facilities on account of party politics, apathy and negligence on the part of the
Administration to understand the problems of the people of Manipur.