Textiles N Handlooms Of Manipur

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This collection has pics of textiles displayed during Sangai Festival, visit to village to see how handlooms made and fashion show during the festival. This was by far the most impressive stall in the festival. It had bags, purses, cushion covers, door mats, big mats, coasters etc. Lovely stuff.

On display in exhibition. Left to red red colored piece is Shawl worn by Hmar tribe, next colorful cloth is lower garment worn by Mizo tribe. Below that is muffler locally called VAIPHEI.In case of any errors in description of various garments please write back will correct.

Left to right first garments is called AIMOL, brown one in centre is lower garment called RONGMEI, red on right is lower garment called LIANGMAI.

Ladies doing embroidery work.

Lower garment is called Phanek which is what you see the lady making. Carefully note the sitting position. She has a leather piece round her waist (that you cannot see), her legs take support from a piece of wood ie eventually fixed to the wall.

UMAKANTA wood carving on display during the festival. In centre of pic is Prime Minister Modi. He came for the closing ceremony and was the first PM to visit the Sangai Festival.

Cane furniture - wow. Bought local Agarbattis that were available here. My wife liked them so much that I requested a pal in Imphal for ten packets.

Traditional tribal ornaments on display.

Locally made Medicines. I was well so did not try but locals spoke very highly of their curing abilities.

Met these smiling girls at the entrance to the Imphal Polo Ground where the 8th Manipur International Polo 2014 was to be inaugurated. Note it might appear they are wearing a sari but actually not. Lower garment is called PHANEK. Upper garment is called INA PHI below which is a blouse. Saw some awesome designs of the INA PHI.

The garments that you see are called ''Wangkhei Phi'' and are available both in cotton and silk. They are basically made by handloom.

Another view of the best handloom shop in Sangai Festival. Saw some army wives place orders for cushion covers as if they was no tomorrow. The stall is run by a dynamic lady L Jibanlata.She runs a women cooperative and a micro-finance company. Got to know that the latter is a result of Government initiative to promote self-employment in the North East. Her contacts 094026 78608, lijbanleima@gmail.com

Jibanlataji took us to a village in Imphal East where handlooms are made. U see local lady weaving. In fact the cloth design she is weaving was for cushion covers. Though this house was small the bigger houses had a pond. In other villages too saw houses with a pond.

A very good shop in Paona Bazaar is Eastern Handloom and Handicraft where you handicrafts, cane products, shawls etc. Left is PUNG CHOLOM dance ie beating of drums in various forms. Right pic man is called KHAMBA and lady is called THOIBI.

In Eastern Handloom shop. Images are of Raas Leela Dance and Shri Krishna. You can call them at 91 98562 62829 and 91 73082 95012. Do bargain to get a good deal.

Number of Thai people set up stalls at the Sangai Festival. They mostly sell garments and artificial jewellery. Saw lots of crowds at such stalls but not much sale.

The dress that girl is wearing is called ''Mayek Naibi Phanek (lower one) and ''Ina Phi'' (the upper one). The male wear is called ''Pheijom''(the lower) and ''Inaphi'' (upper). What the girl has worn round her head, red in color, is called ''Kajeng Lei''. Note that this is a traditional style of draping garment presented during the fashion show in the festival.

In village that Jibanlataji took us you see team of National Institute Design alumini who were hired by the IGNCA (Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts) to document the process making textiles in the North-East. This team worked on textiles of Manipur.

The garments in this pic is called the PHEIJOM. It is the Krishna Balaram Nartan in Sansenba / Goshthaleela.

Group pic of ladies in Imphal East. Most of them make handlooms. Most Manipuri women that I saw have a clean complexion and very straight hair. Wonder if it has something to do with their diet. Young smiling girl in centre learnt this art after she got married. Men folk go outside to work while women look after home and weave as well.

Tulsi plant in front of pic. Aluminum box is for storage of rice. Every village home that I went to had a tulsi plant. Read Sacred Trees of the Hindus Click here

The dress worn by Mangka (very popular singer) is the traditional Phanek in Muga (silk).

PUNG (percussion instrument) CHOLOM (performance). Dholak made of wood and found in Manipur only. It is a must see. When artists play the dholak and jump in the air it is a visual treat. This performance was on day 2 of the Sangai Festival.

A Manipuri lady in a traditional dress, do not know which community she belongs to. Like to thank friends in Imphal and Kolkata who helped with captions.

A lady weaving blanket ie gifted during marriage. A piece of leather round her waist supports the back. Right of pic wooden structure for leg support is called KHONGRANG. To see pics of Applique work of Barmer, Rajasthan Click here

What you in previous pic is one part of the blanket. 4 of these are stitched together to make a marriage blanket is called LEIRUM PHEE. To see pics of Dhurries of Jodhpur Click here

In the same village Jibanlataji in centre of pic with village ladies on either side. If you like the products sold by her co-operative mail her at Click here. If you cannot get through mail me at Click hereand I will connect. To see pics of Bastar Craft Click here

Handicraft items sold by Eastern Handloom and Handicraft in Paona Bazaar. Good shop do visit. To see pics of Craft Centres of Arunachal Pradesh Click here

In Paona Bazaar is a Manipur state government showroom that sells local handloom items some of which you see. They sell jackets, coats, bed sheet, bed covers, shawls, mufflers etc. Worth a visit. Shop opens at 11 am. To see pics of Pattachitra Paintings in heritage village of Raghurajpur near Puri Click here

Local dance during inauguration of the 8th Manipur Polo International 2014. Note their clothes. To see pics of Woolens of Munisyari, KumaonClick here

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