Manipur

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Manipur’s Naga entrepreneur champions indigenous farming practices

From using local berries in chocolates to rewilding and revitalising tribal forests, this confectioner is championing indigenous food systems in Manipur.

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Exciting village festivals you can attend this March

Spring is here! And rural India is getting ready to celebrate the blooming season with festivities that reflect each region’s cultural richness. These are some of the most vibrant festivals you can enjoy this March.

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Manipur woman makes clothes with lotus stem fibre

Bijiyashanti Tongbram, a 30-year-old entrepreneur from Manipur, makes mufflers and stoles by spinning lotus stems. Her innovation caught the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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100-yr-old shawls to WW-II objects, Manipur woman preserves relics

From old traditional attire to ‘Mickey Mouse money’, Vasai Zimik Ringkhanring from Sirarakhong village in Manipur owns a collection of over 1,000 historical artefacts amassed over 20 years

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The exuberant post-wedding bridal march of Tangkhul Nagas

Ngala katha remains a prominent tradition in Tangkhul Naga weddings, enduring despite modernization. The vibrant post-wedding march from bride's to groom's house is cherished as its highlight.

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A Manipur village dares to dream, one Kachai lemon at a time

The Kachai lemon of Manipur has transcended its role as a mere fruit to become a catalyst for economic empowerment and self-reliance for people.

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Manipur’s transmen’s football team transforms lives

Ya_All, a UN-recognised LGBTI+ youth-led organisation in Imphal, Manipur, symbolises resilience and inclusivity in Northeast India. This groundbreaking initiative goes beyond sports, making a significant impact.

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Manipur kindergarten kids learn to rock

Pam’s Kindergarten in Ukhrul seamlessly integrates music with the foundations of early education, showcasing the remarkable talents of its young students, particularly with the ukulele.

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This Manipur designer’s creations echo tribal roots

Designer Easternlight Zimik draws from tribal heritage for his latest kashan (wraparound) collection, aiming to redefine conventional attire and empower rural Ukhrul's weavers.

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Manipuri film ‘Andro Dreams’ dribbles past gender stereotype

Filmmaker Meena Longjam’s ‘Andro Dreams’ breaks the mould of sports films, offering a nuanced perspective on a Manipur village, challenging societal norms through the lens of an all-girls football team.

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Tangkhul Naga catering start-up transforms traditional feasts

In Manipur’s Ukhrul district, where the concept of catering is a novelty, Hao services caterers has revolutionised Tangkhul Naga norms surrounding feasts and empowered local women, who cook magical dishes and earn a decent income.

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Inspiring rural women who defied expectations

They had only a dream to start with. And they have made their mark in various fields with a never-quit spirit. This International Day of Rural Women, we revisit some inspiring stories covered on Village Square.

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Shirui lilies add to Manipur colour amid concerns

Locals say Manipur’s state flower faces serious threats from the influx of tourists who will descend shortly like every year to witness them bloom in Kashong peak.

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Manipur youngster tackles life’s odds to scorch football pitch

Scolded often for neglecting studies and obsessing over football in earlier times, Hormipam Ruivah from Manipur today plays for Kerala Blasters and is a sporting icon.

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Manipur’s drug saviour

Pamkhuila Shaiza, 36, and her Bredwell Correctional Facility in Ukhrul counsel hundreds of substance abusers and strive to support them in their arduous journey towards rehabilitation.

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Photo essay: Sowing seeds of festivity in Manipur

The Tangkhul tribe in Manipur sows seeds – with so much fun and fanfare – it’s an annual festival. The Luira Phanit festival is celebrated a little differently in each village. Here’s a look at Nungbi Khullen’s celebration.

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Discover the hidden gems of Manipur

The northeastern state is known for its natural beauty with many places that should not be missed.

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Manipur’s decreasing bamboo supply hurts artisans

Urbanization is claiming another ancient industry -- bamboo artisans – as sprawling construction means not only less bamboo cover but competing demands for it from scaffolding makers.

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Manipur’s folk-rock band hits the right notes

Featherheads Haokui, an Indigenous music band from Ukhrul promotes the unique culture and oral traditions of the Tangkhul Naga Community through their folk-rock music.

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Hanjabam Radhe: from child bride to dress designer to Padma Shri

Manipur’s 90-year-old Hanjabam Ongbi Radhe Sharmi, who promotes potloi setpi – the traditional bridal dress of Manipur’s Meitei community – is happy with gaining recognition through her Padma Shri award. But she believes the government should financially support artisans like her during their old age.