Meetei Chanu Explained

Miss Meetei Chanu
Type:Beauty pageant
Headquarters:Imphal
Location:Manipur
Formation:2016
Language:Meitei (Manipuri)
Key People:Leishemba Sanajaoba, Ishorjit Chandam (organizers), Tampak Puba (publicity secretary)[1]
Parent Organization:Lainingthou Sanamahi Sana Pung (LSSP)

Miss Meetei Chanu or Miss Meitei Chanu is an international annual beauty pageant that is run by the Manipur based Lainingthou Sanamahi Sana Pung (LSSP). The event aims to make Meitei women understand the culture and tradition of Sanamahism (Meitei religion). It is one of the most watched beauty pageants in North East India. It co-exists with Miss Manipur, Femina Miss India Manipur and Miss Kangleipak.[1] [2] [3]

Background

The Miss Meetei Chanu beauty pageant was first held in 2016. It was organised by the Lainingthou Sanamahi Sana Pung (LSSP), a socio-religious group, based in Manipur, India. The event is organised under the guidance of Leishemba Sanajaoba (Manipuri: {{script|Mtei|[[ꯂꯩꯁꯦꯝꯕ ꯁꯅꯥꯖꯥꯎꯕ]]), His Highness, the present titular king of Manipur. Besides being a beauty pageant, the event also includes cultural activities like cooking dishes, cleaning courtyards and serving elders in traditional ways.[1]

Many elements of the Meitei culture are included in the contest. The contestants are to prepare indigenous dishes in traditional way. The cooking utensils are earthen ones, following the old practices. Other than this, cleaning of courtyard and service to the old people are also the parts of the event.[1]

Special awards

Besides the overall top 3 awards, the following are the special awards.

Special awardsLatin-Roman transliterationsEnglish translation/equivalent terms
ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯤꯕꯤ ꯁꯝꯂꯥꯡNingthibi SamlangBest hair[4]
ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯤꯕꯤ ꯃꯤꯅꯣꯛNingthibi MinokBest smile
ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯤꯕꯤ ꯈꯣꯡꯊꯥꯡNingthibi KhongthangBest walk
ꯊꯧꯒꯟꯂꯣꯟ ꯆꯪꯈꯣꯟꯕꯤ/ꯊꯧꯒꯜ ꯂꯣꯟꯆꯠ ꯐꯖꯕꯤThouganlon Changkhonbi/Thougal Lonchat PhajabiBest manners
ꯃꯃꯤꯗ ꯃꯁꯛ ꯐꯖꯕꯤMami Da Masak PhajabiMiss Photogenic
ꯍꯦꯟꯗꯣꯛꯅ ꯃꯇꯤꯛ ꯃꯌꯥꯢ ꯆꯦꯟꯕꯤHendokna Matik Mayai ChenbiMiss Outstanding Quality

Challenge events

The contest has both non-costume based as well as costume based events. Generally, the costume based events are performed later.

Non-costume based events

The non-costume based events include the following rounds.

Event namesLatin-Roman transliterationsEnglish translation/description
ꯅꯥꯆꯣꯝ ꯁꯦꯝꯕNachom Semba making flower bunch to wear
ꯆꯦꯡ ꯈꯩꯕ-ꯈꯞꯄCheng Kheiba-Khappa husking paddy
ꯁꯨꯃꯥꯡ ꯋꯥꯢ ꯇꯩꯕ Shumang Wai Teiba courtyard mop contest[5]
ꯐꯨ ꯍꯧꯕ/ꯃꯊꯦꯜ ꯂꯨꯀꯣꯢ ꯊꯣꯡꯕPhu Houba/Mathel Lukoi Thongbatraditional kitchen service[6] [7]
ꯂꯥꯢꯐꯝꯗ ꯎ ꯊꯥꯕLaiphamda oo thaabavisiting Meetei places of worship for tree plantation

Costume-based events

The costume based events include three rounds.

Event namesLatin-Roman transliterationsEnglish translation/equivalent termsDescription
ꯑꯌꯨꯛꯀꯤ ꯌꯦꯟꯗꯥAyukki YendaIntroductory RoundContest for daily costumes of Meetei women worn at the dawn during the morning activities like praying to the God.
ꯂꯥꯢ ꯍꯔꯥꯎꯕLai Haraoba traditional roundLai Haraoba traditional roundContest for costumes of Meetei women worn during Lai Haraoba.
ꯑꯀꯦ-ꯑꯃꯧAke-Amou roundLast roundContest for costumes of Meetei women worn during socio-cultural ceremonies.

Foreign delegates

In 2019, one delegate from Bangladesh and one from Assam participated in the 4th Miss Meetei Chanu beauty pageant in Manipur.[8] [9]

Bangladeshi delegate

Leiphrakpam Suchona Chanu (Manipuri: {{Script|Mtei|ꯂꯩꯐ꯭ꯔꯥꯛꯄꯝ ꯁꯨꯆꯣꯅꯥ ꯆꯅꯨ) from Bangladesh auditioned for the pageant, along with 50 aspirants. L Suchona hails from a family of social and cultural activist parents, L Ibungohal Shyamal and L (O) Kunjarani Leima. Native to Bhanughas Tetai Gaon, Moulvibazar district, Bangladesh, she is an undergraduate student at Leading University, Sylhet, Bangladesh.In her maiden visit to Manipur, L Suchona was taking part in the beauty pageant remembering the love for her roots of culture. Along with her, her father is promoting Meitei culture in the sovereign nation of Bangladesh.She said to the public, regarding her participation in the event as follows:

Notably, she won the main title of the pageant, making herself the first Bangladeshi to win the title from India.[10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]

Delegates from Assam

Longjam Rabina Chanu (Manipuri: {{Script|Mtei|ꯂꯣꯡꯖꯝ ꯔꯕꯤꯅꯥ ꯆꯅꯨ), from Bhatigram, Jaribon, Assam, participated the pageant in 2019. She is daughter of Rajkumar and Muhini Leima. She is pursuing BCom at Cachar College. She thanked the organiser Lainingthou Sanna Mahee Sanna Pung, Kangleipak (LSSP) for giving her the opportunity to represent as a Manipuri woman in the pageant. She expressed her gratitude for having an "an opportunity to learn new things".

Recent titleholders

EditionMeitei year (as bestowed during the contest) CountryTitleholdersVenue of CompetitionNumber of Entrants
20193417Leiphrakpam Suchona Chanu (Manipuri: {{Script|Mtei|ꯂꯩꯐ꯭ꯔꯥꯛꯄꯝ ꯁꯨꯆꯣꯅꯥ ꯆꯅꯨ)Imphal30
20183416Oinam Merina Chanu (Manipuri: {{Script|Mtei|ꯑꯣꯏꯅꯥꯝ ꯃꯦꯔꯤꯅꯥ ꯆꯅꯨ)Imphal
20173415Laishram Shilla Chanu (Manipuri: {{Script|Mtei|ꯂꯥꯏꯁ꯭ꯔꯝ ꯁꯤꯜꯂꯥ ꯆꯅꯨ)Imphal35[16] [17]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Contest on Meitei way of life . 2022-06-14 . The Telegraph.
  2. Web site: 2018-11-01 . Meetei Chanu 2018 . 2022-06-14 . Pothashang News. en-GB.
  3. Web site: 2017-12-20 . 'Meetei Chanu' Final Contest on December 23 . 2022-06-14 . Pothashang News . en-GB.
  4. Web site: 2017-12-24 . Laishram Shilla Chanu wins Meetei Chanu . 2022-06-14 . Pothashang News . en-GB.
  5. Web site: 2017-12-16 . Meetei Chanu Apirants Compete on Wei Teiba . 2022-06-14 . Pothashang News . en-GB.
  6. Web site: 2017-12-15 . 'Meetei Chanu' Crosses 'Phu Houba' . 2022-06-14 . Pothashang News . en-GB.
  7. Web site: 4th Meetei Chanu : 07th oct19 ~ E-Pao! Headlines . 2022-06-14 . e-pao.net.
  8. News: Two Manipuris from Assam, Bangladesh participating in 4th Meetei Chanu pageant . 2023-04-13 . The Sangai Express . en.
  9. Web site: Two Manipuris from Assam, Bangladesh participating in 4th Meetei Chanu pageant : 23rd sep19 ~ E-Pao! Headlines . 2023-04-13 . e-pao.net.
  10. News: Received . 2022-06-14 . The Sangai Express . en.
  11. Web site: Received : 23rd oct19 ~ E-Pao! Headlines . 2022-06-14 . e-pao.net.
  12. Web site: bn:ভারতের ‘মীতৈ চনু- ২০১৯’ এর বিজয় মুকুট অর্জনকারী কমলগঞ্জের ‘সুচনা চনু’-কে সংবর্ধনা . https://www.bojrokontho.com/17446 . 2022-06-14 . Bojrokontho . bn-bd.
  13. Web site: bn:কমলগঞ্জে মণিপুরি কন্যা সংবর্ধিত . https://www.koranginews24.com/news/9005 . 2022-06-14 . www.koranginews24.com . 24 October 2019 . bn.
  14. Web site: ডেস্ক . য়েন্নীং . 2021-04-14 . লৈফ্রাকপম সূচনা থামোয়গী ইন্টারভিউ: মীতৈ চনু ২০১৯গী ৱারী . 2022-06-14 . Enaat . mni.
  15. Web site: Chitro . Bangladesh . bn:মীতৈ চনু মুকুট জিতলেন বাংলাদেশের লৈফ্রাকপম সুচনা - News Vision BD . https://newsvisionbd.com/মীতৈ-চনু-মুকুট-জিতলেন-বাং/ . 2022-06-14 . bn.
  16. Web site: 2017-12-24 . Laishram Shilla crowned Meitei Chanu 2017 . 2022-06-14 . Northeast Now . en-US.
  17. News: 2010-09-15 . Laishram crowned Meitei Chanu. 2022-06-14 . The Assam Tribune . en.