CRAFTS
Manipur is known for its
crafts. Both in the hills and the valley the craft
work is the common occupation. Coarse cotton cloth is woven on the looms. The
looms are in every house. Cotton thread is imported in large quantity. Cotton
yarn is dyed with red, yellow, green, orange, black and pink colours. Artistic
designs are arranged horizontally and vertically by producing stripes and
geometrical blocks. These blocks are filled up with geometrical designs of
smaller components. The rhythm of colour bands is maintained. Silk cloth is also
woven on the looms.
In Manipur there are about ten different varieties of
embroideries. Lamphic
is a war cloth worn by the warriors. Ninghonphee is a waistcoat and it is used
by warriors. Saijounba is a long coat worn by men especially by the courtiers.
Phiranauba is the small flags as plumes on turban worn by the
warriors. Namthang-Khut-hut is a special design which is taken from the head of
Pakhangba. The cloth with this design is worn only by the royal ladies.
Khamenchatpa is the design taken from the belly of Pakhangba. This design is
taken on dhotis used by men of distinction. Kabui Singh Nangpan is the flag
designs taken from the neck of Pakhangba. Phiranji is a red blanket and is given as a reward for merit.
Motrangphee is a temple design. This piece of cloth with peculiar design was
invented by the princess Thoibi and Lashingphee is a very famous cloth. It is in
fact a light quilt. The cotton wicks are artistically and adroitly arranged
horizontally through the silky and striped bands of different fibre of the
wrap. The different designs are named Likti design, bottle design, moibung
design - attractive motifs and Shamilan design with animal motifs.
There are ten types of cloth patterns amongst Naga tribes. They are Pakhon
phi which is worn by men. The central portion is white and the borders are with
black, blue and red lines; Leirum phi which is red and white with black marks;
Kairao phi with red, black and blue stripes; Lai phi is worn by women and it is
with black and white stripes; Longkhum Kasum with red and white stripes is worn
by women; Sukham phi is a cloth with white ground with red and black border;
Pordesum phi is a piece of cloth with red, black, blue and white cross markings;
Langoudesum phi is a woman's cloth with black and red stripes; Kasundesum phi is
with broad red and narrow black stripes and it is worn by women; and Melao phi
is a waist cloth worn by Naga men. It is with blue and red stripes. In the hills and the valley, baskets, hats and other articles are made from
the bamboo. Basket are made in different designs.
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