Manipuri Wedding Rituals Portraying the Tradition of Manipur

Readiprint International

November 21, 2014

Authored by: Rahul sablawat

Manipur is the name of a North Eastern Indian state. The weddings of Manipur, like the state is also

colorful and unique like its traditions. There are many tribal folks in this state. Although there are

different tribes in the state, most of the Manipuri wedding rituals have resemblance to each other.

They use traditional wedding invitation cards for inviting guests for the ceremony.

Choosing the life partners

The tribal people of “Magh” make use of the grand New Year Festival for the purpose of knowing each

other. Young men and women who are of marriageable age visit the festival and have the opportunity to

know better. After choosing the right person, the parents are informed and marriage needs the consent

of the parents. Tribal people of Garo, Magh, Tippra ad Khasia usually go the markets for buying as well

as for selling things. This is where young boys and girls get to meet each other and they get the

opportunity to choose their partners. Among the tribal people of Garo, Manipuri and Santal, young

people meet each other in fields. Life partners are thus chosen after knowing each other.

Pre Wedding rituals

The pre wedding rituals of Manipuri weddings are very interesting. Some of the pre wedding rituals

include:

Hinaba- The ritual that involves the meeting parents of bride & groom is called Hinaba. The

groom’s parents visit the bride’s house. This ritual also includes the matching of the horoscopes

of the bride and the groom.

Yathang Thanaga- Yathang Thanaga is a ritual where the bride’s parents visit the groom’s house.

During this ritual, the bride’s parents give the consent for wedding

Waraipot puba- During this ritual, the family of the groom visits the bride’s house. They bring

food articles during their visit. The wedding is finally fixed during this ritual.

Heijapot- Heijapot is the engagement of the bride as well as the groom. Bride is given gifts from

the family members of the groom during this ritual. The members of family and close friends are

invited during the engagement. The date of nuptial is fixed during this occasion by the priest.

Important Wedding Rituals

The day of wedding is a great day of joy for both the bride’s and the groom’s family members. The

groom along with members of family, go to the bride’s house and there they are greeted by a Meitei

woman. She welcomes the groom and his family with a large plate that is covered with banana leaf. This

place is decorated with betel leaves and betel nuts. The wedding altar has a tulsi plant at the center and

all the rituals of the wedding centers round this basil plant.

Lamp is lighted and a young boy from t bride’s side washes feet of the groom. The bride enters the altar

with a garland of flowers, and she is decked in rasleela dress. The garland which the bride carries with

her is made by her. The bride & groom garland each other and they take seven circles right around the

basil or tulsi plant. A pair of taki fish is let out to the water. The pair of fish represents the bride and the

groom. After a wonderful and delightful meal, the guests are gifted with dakshina and sweets. Bride

then leaves her home and goes to the groom’s place.

Post Wedding Rituals

The bride’s parents visit their daughter next day. Out of the Manipuri wedding rituals, the final ritual

called Mangani Chakouba is a ritual where the newly wedded visit bride’s house. Guests are invited to

the house and several Manipuri delicacies are served during this ritual. The couples are also gifted with

rice, money, pigs or alcohol. The gifts are a signs of their entry into a new and better life.

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