Research Article | Open Access
Exploring Social Dynamics within the Lai Haraoba Festival: A Case Study of Meitei Culture
Rabikanta Singh, Ng. Pungfa, S. Sumanta Singh, K. Ingocha Singh, Arundhati Devi Maibam
Pages: 3223-3227
Abstract
The Lai Haraoba festival is a significant religious event celebrated by the Meiteis, an indigenous community in Manipur, India. This cyclical celebration encompasses a wide array of rituals, dances, music, and sports, all performed within the social frameworks of lineages, clans, or villages. Central to this cultural heritage is the portrayal of the world's creation and human existence through various aesthetic art forms, guided by specialists known locally as Amaibis, Amaibas, and Pena khongbas. These rituals also serve to invoke supernatural forces for the fertility and prosperity of the community. This study aims to contextualize the festive spirit of Lai Haraoba through empirical methods such as interviews and observations, shedding light on its symbolic representations of joy, social cohesion, fertility, and prosperity within a religious context.
Keywords
Lai Haraoba, Meitei, Manipur, social cohesion, fertility