ABSTRACT
Manipur, a little paradise in the north-east of India, has a rich cultural heritage, rooted in the religious, cultural and social customaries of the community since time immemorial. The state has made many spectacular contributions to the world of culture, special mention may be made of Manipuri dance (e.g. Ras Lila), music (e.g. pena), theatre (e.g. Shumanglila), martial art (e.g. thang-ta), polo, Umang Lai Haraoba, etc. The Meitei peoples in Assam, Tripura, Nagaland, Bangladesh and Myanmar also, celebrate Umang Lai Haraoba. The world famous Manipuri dance (Ras Lila), polo and UNESCO recognized Nat Sankirtan are the products of Umanglai culture. Since the Umanglais reside in a sacred forest it was sacrosanct to protect the forest which stands in the name of the god residing therein. Thus, the Meitei and other indigenous people of Manipur, Assam, Nagaland and Tripura today, are very much indebted to their forefathers for inheriting such a rich cultural heritage.
