Bishnupriya Manipuri Online

Like any other Hindu community, the Bishnupriya Manipuri has its own customs and rituals, more appropriately societal systems. One among this systems are Lokei and Ghar Mangoni. By BN Sinha, New Delhi The population of Bishnupriya Manipuri community is very small in size and is widely spread in the north eastern part of India in Assam, Tripura and Bangladesh. We all believe that we are Aryans and considerably rich with respect to ethnicity and dogmas. The community as a whole is considered as peace loving and devotional and claim itself as Vaishnavaites as it worships Lord Krishna. There are some distinctive rules or norms prevalent in the Bishnupriya Manipuri community with respect to customs and rituals. Though Bishnupriya Manipuri community is blessed of not following the system of casteism other communities in India. However, the community is segregated into various numerous clusters with respect to their origins known as Lokeis , and Gutras . Though gutras are said to be the fleet...

On 23 rd March 2008, a meeting took place at Mr. Shiva Prasad Sinha’s residence at Fort William, Kolkata to discuss upon acquiring a plot of land either in North or South Kolkata for the construction of a Mandir of Shri Shri Bhubhaneshwar Sadhu Thakur . People present in the meeting were requested to search for a better plot and they have agreed to do so. Mr. Rebati Mohan Sinha, the Working President of Nikhil Bishnupriya Manipuri Mahasabha (NBMM) presided over the meeting. In his speech he expressed his happiness to be a part of the gathering where Shri Shri Bhubhaneshwar Sadhu Thakur’s teachings were discussed. He even pressed upon the unity among the Bishnupriya Manipuri inhabitants of Kolkata and its suburbs. Mr. Nirmal Sinha assured in the gathering that they will continue celebrating Bishnupriya Manipuri festivals along with the Birth Anniversary of Sadhu Thakur. Mr. Rajat Sinha who was present in the meeting expressed his sorrowness to the deteriorating standard of education pre...

Holi the festival of colour and joy is celebrated with great enthusiasm by all. This festival is celebrated in different ways by different communities. Our Bishnupriya Manipuri community also has its own way of celebrating this colourful festival. By Ranita Sinha, Kolkata Holi or Phagua is a major festival of the Bishnupriya Manipuri community. In the villages on the day of ' Phagu Purnima ' most of the individuals fast during day time. On that day the ' Firal ' (Bishnupriya Manipuri holy flag), put on each and every house of the village are collected. With the poles of the ' Firal ' a tower like structure with a hollow inside is built. The structure is called the ' Jarma ". The ' Jarma ' is built on the empty paddy field. After sunset all the villagers irrespective of gender, age and status assemble near the ' Jarma ' with flowers and bhog (fruits, sweets etc) to offer to the Lord. The village priest than appears at the site wit...

Chakam - the Bishnupriya Manipuri kitchen has significance of its own. The traditional chakams are built on the ' Agni Kun ' according to Vaastu Sastra. It is mainly build at the rear end of the house. It usually has two doors - one connecting it to the rest of the house and the other opening at the backyard. By Ranita Sinha, Kolkata The Bishnupriya Manipuri kitchens are very spacious and has 'kutcha floors'. It usually has two earthen chulhas known as 'leirang' and a make shift chulha known as the ' Phunka ' or ' Udal ' which is mainly put at the centre of the kitchen. A common sight that is seen at every chakam is the household granary known as the ' Barong ', built at one corner of the kitchen. Every morning the Chakam is cleaned and mopped with a mixture of mud and cow dung. No overnight used utensils are kept in the kitchen. No one is allowed to enter the chakam without taking a bath. Shoes and slippers are a big NO NO in there. On...

My Aiga expired this evening. His death came as a shocking news for my family, and of course to me. It has jolted me from inside. All his countenance that has taken place with me since my childhood is flashing on my eyes. His smile, his way of asking about my wellness, when I used to visit my Mohanpur village is surfacing in my mind. I am not able to digest the fact that he is no more on this earth. I will not be able to see him next time I drop at my village. There will be no person who would be asking me " Rishi, kishade aileta?...Habbi hoba oya asi ta ?." These two sentences were enough to relax me from the tortuous journey I used to travel to get to my village. The sentences had a magical effect on me, it was so soothing. The calmness it brings to my nerves is something I never felt before. But now the voidness he has created I am feeling, sitting thousands of kilometres away from my home. I would no more see my Aiga, wearing a khuttei busy working in the garden of my ...

Couple of months back, in the Orkut Bishnupriya Manipuri community, a long, contagious debate took place on the inter-caste marriage. The debate was hot, hot as much it could bring sweat down under everyone's collar. If one remembers, and has closely followed it. It was indeed so. I remember both the sides 'for' and 'against' were armed to teeth with facts and figures. They had a point and logic what they were putting. Some were damn practical to their views and some adamant to their beliefs. But it was interesting to the hilt. And I enjoyed it thoroughly. No doubt of it, their were comments that were very much personal and hence mitigating the whole spirit of discussion and fruitful debate. No problem! At the end of day we were all having the same blood running in our veins - Bishnupriya Manipuri. Quarrels do take place when from various parts of the world people congregate and exchange their precious views. The debate brought slew of perceptions that we have on i...

The three-day Folk Music Festival ’08 came to an end in Bangladesh with the presentation of Manipuri classical dance titled Rash being performed by the Bishnupriya Manipuri community inhabitants of the country. The artists presented the Rash in three fragments of art forms. However, the classical dance is performed nightlong. The festival took place in the premises of the Bangladesh Asiatic Society [BAS] on February 29. BAS arranged the festival to its project called 'Bangladesh Cultural Survey'. Besides dance and music, research papers on folksongs were presented. Ten troupes performed in the evening session of the programme. The event began with staging of the Manipuri Moithy community's folklore. They staged two Jagous (a traditional performance in dance-music form featuring the myth of Khoma-Khoibi duo). Moreover, they presented a part of Khubak Oishey ( a kind of ballad). The presentation of the indigenous performing art forms of Manipuri Moithy was enjoyable. Reported...