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Northeast India · State

Manipur

A valley ringed by hills, with the floating phumdis of Loktak Lake, a classical dance tradition and a long history of polo and martial arts.

Capital
Imphal
Languages
Meiteilon / Manipuri (official); English; Tangkhul, Thadou and other hill languages — major and official languages, not an exclusive list.

Cultural traditions, arts & crafts

  • • Manipuri (Raas Leela) classical dance
  • • Thang-ta martial art and Sagol Kangjei (early polo)
  • • Loin-loom weaving of phanek and shawls
  • • Longpi black pottery made without a wheel

Major festivals

  • Yaoshang — February–March (dates vary — verify current dates)
  • Lai Haraoba — April–May (dates vary — verify current dates)
  • Ningol Chakouba — October–November (dates vary — verify current dates)
Open the festival calendar for Manipur

Traditional dress & textiles

Dress varies by community, district, occasion and generation; everyday clothing today is often contemporary. These are representative traditions rather than a single state costume.

  • • The phanek (wrap skirt) with an innaphi shawl is widely worn by Meitei women
  • • The potloi, a stiff cylindrical skirt, is worn by brides and Raas dancers
  • • Hill communities weave distinct shawls whose patterns identify clan and status

Where to go

Show Manipur on the explore map

Sources & verify

Last reviewed: August 2026. Cultural traditions in India vary by community, district, occasion and generation. The notes below are representative examples reviewed against government sources, not exhaustive or official definitions. Festival timings follow lunar or locally announced calendars — verify current dates with the relevant state tourism department before travelling.