Manipur, a happy land of many vibrant festivals that’ll make you visit it over and over again. Hardly a month passes by without a joyous festival in this hilly town. Kut, Lai Haraoba, Yaoshang, or Chumpha, all these Manipur festivals show the spirit, rich culture, and togetherness of the people of Manipur.The best way to explore the unique culture and lifestyle of Manipur is by attending these fetsivals. It will be a delight for culture-vultures. If you’re someone who wish to explore the rich heritage and culture of this hill district, then you must visit Manipur during one of these festivals.
Popular Manipur Festivals
Know about Manipur festivals 2024 and be a part of these cultural and religious celebrations on your next trip to the Northeast. Mark the dates for these festtivals on your Gcal.
- Christmas
- Cheiraoba Festival
- Yaoshang
- Lai Haraoba
- Kang Festival
- Heirku Hindongba
- Kut Festival
- Manipur Sangai Festival
- Ningol Chakouba
- Chumpha Festival
- Lui Ngai Ni
- Ramjan
- Gang Ngai
1. Christmas
Among the most famous festivals of India, Christmas in Manipur is not only celebrated within Christian communities, but everyone in Manipur indulge in the celebration of bright and colourful Christmas- one of the best festivals celebrated in Manipur. This gala winter festivity is celebrated by singing Christmas carols and reading Gospel and Bible. Moreover, Christmas brings friends and families together. People organise get togethers, decorate houses, put in Christmas trees, bake cakes, cook Christmas delicacies and children receive surprise gifts from Santa Clause.
Key attractions: Midnight masses in churches.
Date: 24th and 25th December
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2. Cheiraoba Festival
One of the most famous festivals of Manipur, Cheiraoba is celebrated on the 1st day of Sajibu month (March-April). This is also known as Spring Festival in Manipur. During this festival, people dress up in traditional outfits, visit friends and relatives, exchange greetings and gifts and cook local delicacies. The regional goddess Sanamahi is also worshipped during Cheiraoba festival of Manipur.
Key attractions: People climb up Cheiraoching hill top, located in Imphal during this festival. Local folks believe that climbing this hillock signifies the rise of human civilisation.
Date: 14 th April 2022
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3. Yaoshang (Holi)
From the full moon day of Phalguna month (February-March), the celebration of Yaoshang Festival of Manipur or Holi starts and continues for 5 days. This is one of the major Manipur festivals as well as entire north-eastern region of India. People throw and spray dry and wet colours on each other, sing songs and dance together. Children collect money from each and every household and organise feasts, parties, sports and games in the localities.
Key attractions: Thabal Chongba- Manipuri folk dance where boys and girls hold hands and dance in circles.
Date: 18th – 19th March 2022
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4. Lai Haraoba
Featuring the worship of local gods and goddesses, Lai Haraoba is among the widely celebrated festivals in Manipur. Here people also worship their ancestors with great devotion and zeal. Literally translating to ‘festivity of Gods’, this festival is rejoiced by worshipping local deities like Sanamahi, Nongpok Ningthou, Leimarel, Pakhangba and 364 Umang Lais or Jungle deities. Both men and women present folk dances, enact in drama and perform Thoibi and Khamba- a popular Manipuri folklore before the traditional deities.
Key attractions: Procession around the locality where the deity is carried in a palanquin.
Date: May 2022
5. Kang Festival
Kang Festival or Rath yatra, takes place in Govindjee temple in Manipur, every year. Here, the idols of Jagannatha, Balarama and Subhadra are taken in kang (local word for rath or chariot). Devotees with immense enthusiasm and fervour pull the kang and play nahal, gongs, bells, drums and conch. They also offer barti, which are cotton balls soaked in ghee to the gods during the yatra. Community feasts are organised in the evening as well. This is a 10-day long celebration and undeniably one of the important festivals in Manipur.
Key attractions: Kirtan Khubakisei by the devotees in the procession.
Date: 1st July 2022
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6. Heirku Hindongba
Heirku Hindongba, celebrated on 11th day of Langbal month (September), is another name in Manipur festival list. This is a boat race on the canal of the Bijoy Govinda area in Manipur. Local youths participate in this thrilling boat race with zeal, enthusiasm and team spirit. On the eve of the festival, the boats are cleaned and purified with holy shlokas and decorated with garlands. Temporary tents are also erected by the canal for spectators from all parts of the state.
Key attractions: The idol of Shri Vishnu is placed by the canal with the belief that God will supervise the race and preside over the festival. More over Brahmins offer gold and silver to the deities before commencement of the boat race.
Date: TBA
7. Kut Festival
One of the most bright and famous festivals of Manipur is Kut- celebrated by Kuki-Chin-Mizo tribe. Kut festival in Manipur has gradually evolved as a celebration for peace, harmony, communal ties and friendship. Also known as Chavang-Kut or Khodou, this festival is meant to celebrate the generous food stock of the year. People offer thanks to Gods for the bountiful produce by singing, dancing and merrymaking.
Key attractions: Miss Kut- a beauty pageant organised during the festival.
Date: 1st November 2022
8. Manipur Sangai Festival
One of the most vibrant festivals, Manipur Sangai Festival is celebrated every year in November. Manipur Sangai Festival started in 2010 and has evolved as a significant platform to showcase the state’s indigenous art and culture. One can enjoy spectacular performances of dance, music and sports of Manipur and exhibitions of local handicrafts and food. Manipur Film Festival is also organised jointly by MSFDS and Film Forum Manipur, as a part of Manipur Sangai Festival 2022. Here movies and short films by local directors are screened. This initiative helps to promote Manipur film industry nationally and internationally.
Key attractions: Dance forms like Kabui Naga Dance, Raas Leela, Bamboo Dance and Khamba Thoibi Dance are performed. Various native sports like Yubi-Lakpi (a game like rugby, played with greased coconut), Thang Ta (a blend of spear and sword skills), Sagol Kangjei (Manipur version of Polo) and Mukna Kangjei (a unique game that combines hockey and wresting) are also showcased. People can buy local handlooms and handicrafts and indulge in Manipuri delicacies like Nga Thongba or fish curry, Paknam or cake and Eromba- a special dish made of boiled vegetables and fermented fish.
Date: 21st to 30th November 2022
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9. Ningol Chakouba
Manipur festival Ningol Chakouba, a celebration of Meiteis or the Vaishnavites, is one of the most famous and important festivals of Manipur. Nowadays, this event is also observed by the Manipuri Muslims as well. Through this festival, married woman, who live in remote places after marriage, are invited with children to their parent’s house. They are greeted with immense warmth and love and treated with lavish meals. They spend the entire day with their parents, get pampered and return to their marital homes with blessings and gifts. Ningol Chakouba is celebrated on the 2nd day of the New Moon in the Manipuri month of Hiyangei which usually falls in November.
Key attractions: Special dishes like Pan Thongba, Chagempomba, Champhut and Iromba are cooked.
Date: 5th November 2022
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10. Chumpha Festival
Observed by the tribal community of Tanghul Nagas, Chumpha is one of the popular Manipur festivals, celebrated for 7 days after the harvest. People rejoice the annual produce and celebrate with merriment and social gatherings with friends and families, particularly on the last three days. Chumpha festival of Manipur ends on the 7th day with a grand rally in the village. It is an important harvest festival of Manipur that is worth experiencing.
Key attractions: This is one of the unique festivals of Manipur, where women take active participation in every ritual.
Date: 10th – 16th December 2022
11. Lui Ngai Ni
Lui Ngai Ni is the seed-sowing festival celebrated by the tribes in Manipur in the beginning of Manipur season. It is the main festival of Manipur and is celebrated with much fervour and zeal. The name – Lui-Ngai-Ni is taken from three different languages of Naga tribes but all means the same thing i.e. sowing of seeds. The tribe people pay homage to the god of crops for a good harvest by dancing and singing. Attend one of the most exciting Manipur festivals 2022 for a unique experience.
Key attractions: Ethnic dance by the locals
Date: 15th February 2022
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12. Ramjan
Maniour also have a significant number of Muslim population that celebrated Eid in the month of Ramzaan. It is celebrated with the same rituals and traditions as it is celebrated in the rest of the world by Muslims. People visit the mosque for daily prayers, fast for a month, and finally end their fast on the new moon day. They even exchange gifts with each other and prepare delicious feasts during Ramjan. It is known as Meitei Pangal in Manipur.
Key attractions: Big delicious feasts
Date: 2nd April – 2nd May, 2022
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13. Gang Ngai
Gang Ngai is the celebration of customs and traditions of Kabui Nagas in Manipur. The whole festival takes place during five days and the first day is all about honouring their ancestors. The next four days is all about tempting feast, dancing, singing, and various programs. They play melodious music on their ethnic instruments. There is even an exchange of gifts among the tribe.
Key attractions: Street procession with men and women in colorful attire.
Date: December or January
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If you’re someone who enjoys being a part of different Manipur festivals and loves the cultural diversity of the nation, then you must visit northeast to experience the real diversity. So, plan a trip to the Northeast and explore all the seven sisters including Manipur. Also, make sure that you attend at least one of the festivals.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Manipur
What is Manipur famous for?
Being one of the seven Northeastern states of India, Manipur is famous for its unexplored natural beauty and rich culture. It is also known for Loktak Lake and the Khonghampat Orchidarium which are the two most popular places to visit in Manipur.
What is the dress of Manipur?
The traditional dress of Manipur is simple and functional. Women wear a wrap-around skirt called sarong, topped by a Phanek and a shawl called Innaphi. Men wear a dhoti, a jacket along with a white Pagri or turban.
What is the culture of Manipur?
The culture of Manipur is deeply woven with the tribal culture of the region. Two of the many major aspects of this culture are the use of vibrant colours and the significance of dance. The dressing and decorations involve a lot of colours. The traditional Manipuri attire features pop of a variety of shades. Also, the Manipuri dance and other traditional dance forms of the region play and important role in celebrations and community gatherings.
What is the folk dance of Manipur?
Khamba Thoibi Dance, Rasleela and Manipuri Dance are some of the most popular folk dance forms of Manipur.
What language is spoken in Manipur?
Manipuri Meiteilon, also known as Meitei (Meetei) is the language spoken in Manipur. It is a Tibeto-Burman language.
What is the main food of Manipur?
Rice, fish and vegetables is the main food combination eaten in Manipur. Ngri is a popular food dish made with fermented fish.
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A book lover and fun-loving, overtly emotional mom with a wanderlust soul, Sukanya has completed her Master Degree in Geography and currently perusing her passion for writing as a profession. Nothing detoxes her more than trying new recipes and travelling to offbeat places is ultimate Therapy for her.
