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Punjabis
There are some non-Sikh Punjabi traders settled at
Imphal. Their
contribution to Punjabi culture is worth mentioning. Their dishes are very
tasty. They retain their habit of speaking Punjabi amongst themselves. They
speak in a hilarious and jubilant mood. Their women wear salwar-kurta, sari and
are very fond of cosmetics. Inside Punjabi house one finds several items of
furniture and comfort. They believe in decent living and eating.
Marwaris
Marwaris are the dominating business community in the north-eastern region.
They deal in big business and wholesale trade. Their concentrations are
only in the established old towns and business centres like Imphal, Churachandpur
and Moreh. They have entered Manipur in the late nineteenth and early
twentieth century. They migrated from Rajasthan. Their religion is Hinduism,
some observe Jainism and some Sanatan Dharm. Some have adopted Vaishnavite
sect. They marry within their community. Generally they live as joint
family. Their food habits are very simple. They are vegetarian and refrain
from meat, egg, chicken and alcoholic drinks. Their dress is unique. They
wear white kurta pyjama without turban or with white turban. Their women
wear sari and choli. During Hindu festival their women are dressed in
costly saris. Their marriage parties are the occasions to display their
rich clothes they wear. Their greatest contribution to Manipuri society
is business mobilization in this isolated state. They have created a vital
business line between Moreh, Imphal and Dimapur. There are Jains among
Marwaris and also from Utter Pradesh and other parts of the country.
South Indians
Moreh town of Manipur is the real settlement of Tamils and
Keralites. Most of them are refugees from Burma. They have introduced Idli and
Dosa, the famous snack dishes of South Indians to the Meiteis and tribals. The
men dress in lungi and shirt. Office goers wear pants and shirts. The women wear
sari and blouse. They are all Hindus and a few Christians may also be there.
Moreh Tamils are all Hindus and have established several temples of Kali, Durga
and Shiva in the town. They also celebrate their festivals with great pomp and
show. Hindi or Urdu is a common language for them.
Bengalis
The Bengalis are the old settlers in Manipur. Due to the
geographical closeness with Bengal the land has experienced a lot in respect of
socio-cultural and socio-religious interaction between the two societies. The
contribution of Bengalis to the Manipuri society is valuable. Bengalis are one
of the most advanced and intellectually superb ethnical group of India.
Bengali dress of the men is dhoti, kurta, shawl and turban which is same as of a
Meitei man. The women wear sari and blouse. The food habits resembles those of
Meiteis. Bengalis are rice eaters and fish is the main dish at every evening
meal. They take keen interest in celebrations of Hindu festivals. They have
maintained their Bengali culture with its finest heritage. They speak Bengali.
Bengalis in Manipur are in almost all government offices, business and in
teaching profession. Some of them have married Meitei girls. Manipur is having all kinds of people. the society thus gets
status of a cosmopolitan society and all groups are in harmonious relations. |
