Hairstyles of The Meetei/Meitei woman then and now

Before the Second World War, Manipuri (Meetei/Meitei) girls, aged up to 10 years, had the frontal portion of their head shaved. The hair behind the head is preserved. This was known as Samji Khakpi. 

Hairstyles sported by Manipuri Women 
This helps, when a girl is mature, on fashioning the hair kept around the face. The hair that cover the forehead is cut to maintain a curved shape. The side hair is cut in line with the lips. A married woman will push up the circular mass of hair and the hair behind the head is tried to form a beautiful round knot or bun. The side hair on both sides of the head is pulled back in such a manner that a part of it covers the ears. The practice of Sai Kakpa even after the Second World War was seen in some villages and it eventually died out for some years. This style of haircut has been reborn again with renewed vigor, along with the trend of new hairstyles or cuts of modern day.





Reference - Manipuri Costumes Through Ages(India, Bangladesh, Myanmar) by Mutua Bahadur
Disclamer - I do not own the images in any of my blogs

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