Attire worn by women during the Lai Haraoba Festival



Lai haroaba festival is performed to bring about prosperity to the community and fertility to the land. Some of the famous ones are Kanglei Haraoba, Moirang Haraoba, Kakching Haraoba and Chakpa Haraoba, each differing in how it is performed.




The girls or women participating in the festivals usually put on a phanek called phanek mapan naibi or thambal leikhok patterned with black and red lines on a pinkish backgroud. 


Married women,however,cover the area of the hip with a bordered yellow or white cloth. Other sometimes use khamen chatpa printed ones. A thin Harao phee, a ceremonial cloth covers the upper part of the body. In some Lai Haraoba festivals, the pumngou phanek is worn while carrying the items associated with the festivals. The hair of both the married women and girls are adorned using leihao (michelia champaka) letting the flower dangle, along with a garland around their necks. Some wear the potloi(kumin) at the said festivals, but it is not looked upon favorably.




Reference- Manipuri Costumes Through Ages(India, Bangladesh, Myanmar) by Mutua Bahadur



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