Manipur, literally meaning 'a jeweled town,' is situated in the north-eastern part of India. It covers an area of 22,327 sq km and has a population of about 2.3 million. It came under the British rule as a princely state after the defeat in the Anglo-Manipuri War of 1891 and was merged with Indian Union on October 15, 1949. The capital of Manipur,
Imphal lies in the heart of an oval shaped valley and is one of the oldest state capitals in the country.
Manipur is unique with its enchanting natural beauty, eye-catching waterfalls, lakes, streams and evergreen forests. The climate varies from tropical to the sub-alpine. The state represents people of different ethnic groups - the Nagas and Kukis who inhabit the hills and the Meiteis who inhabit the valley. The majority of the population are Hindus. Agriculture is the single largest source of livelihood of the rural folk. Paddy is the main crop grown.
Manipur is rich in art and tradition and is known world-wide for its classical dance form of Manipuri. The cultural tradition is rich with folklore and folktales, myths and legends, dance and drama, games and sports, and handloom and handicrafts. Generally, Manipuris are artistic and creative by nature. Rathayatra,
Janmashtami, Heikru Hitongba,
Durga Puja, Diwali, Baruni, Yaosang and
Cheiraoba are the important festivals.
