Shattra is a totem used by the Meitei tribe of
Manipur for rituals and ceremonies. It is a sacred object offered to the ‘umanglais’ (sylvan deities) during festivals.
A shattra is constructed from a tall bamboo pole. A straight bamboo of big in size is chosen for the making. Bamboo rings, numbering from 3 to 9, are used in the decoration. The rings are fixed in an ascending order of size, with the smallest ring coming at the top and the largest ring at the bottom. Clothes cut in geometric shapes are hung symbolically over the pole.
