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Manipur is a state in the eastern part of India, and it has lots of different tribes living there. In 2011, the Census of India counted that Manipur had about 2.8 million people. Out of those, 41.1% were from the hilly areas, and most of them were tribal people. There are 33 tribes in Manipur, and they are either Nagas or Kukis. These tribes of Manipur are different from each other because they speak different languages, wear different clothes, and have their own customs and traditions. Some of the well-known tribes in Manipur are Meitei, Aimol, Anal, Chiru, Chothe, Gangte, Hmar, Khoibu, Kom, Mao, Maram, Maring, and many more. Each of these tribes has its own language, religion, and culture, which makes Manipur’s heritage and identity very diverse and interesting.
Different Tribes of Manipur
Manipur, a state in India, is home to many tribes. The two main tribes the Nagas and the Kuki-Zo, each with different tribes in them.
The Kuki-Zo tribes include Gangte, Hmar, Paite, Simte, Sukte, Thadou, Vaiphei, and Zou, among others. The Nagas consist of tribes like Angami, Kabui, Kacha Naga, Mao, Maram, and Poumai.
In Manipur, there are 33 recognized tribes that belong to either the Nagas or the Kukis. Some of them are Aimol, Anal, Chiru, Chothe, Inpui, Kharam, Khoibu, Koirao, Kom, Lamkang, Liangmai, Maring, and Mate, among others.
The Kuki people are an ethnic group found in several northeastern Indian states: Manipur, Nagaland, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.
Manipur has three major groups of people: the Meiteis in the valley, the Nagas, and the Kuki-Chin tribes in the hills.
Major Tribes of Manipur
The state of Manipur in India is home to a diverse range of tribes. Some of the major tribes of Manipur include Kuki, Naga, Kom, Mao and more. Below are the detail overview of major tribes of Manipur:
Kuki Tribe of Manipur
The Kuki tribe is a group of people who have lived in Manipur for a long time. They live in the hills of Manipur and have their own special customs, celebrations, music, and stories. The Kuki tribe has simple village life, with a chief and a group of advisors running each village. Most Kuki tribe members practice Christianity and Judaism, and they also have some beliefs in superstitions and magic that are part of their local religion. The Kuki people celebrate festivals related to farming because they depend on farming for their livelihood.
The Kuki tribe is an important part of Manipur’s history. In the early 19th century, the British brought them to live in different places around the Manipur valley for strategic reasons. In the years 1917 to 1919, there was a big event called the Kuki Rebellion that involved the Kuki tribe, and at that time, there were about 40,000 Kuki people in Manipur.
Today, the Kuki tribe is one of the main tribal groups in Manipur, and they mostly live in the hilly areas. They are known for their special culture, old traditions, and their long history in the region.
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
Naga Tribe in Manipur
The Naga tribe in Manipur is one of the big groups of people living in Manipur, India. They are a diverse bunch with different languages, clothes, cultures, and customs. The Nagas used to hunt heads and were known as strong fighters. They moved to Manipur from places like China, Myanmar, and other parts of India.
Here is the list of Naga tribes in Manipur:
- Tangkhul Naga: They have a rich culture and follow old traditions.
- Maring Naga: They have their own unique customs and traditions.
- Mao Naga: They are like a smaller part of the Tangkhul Naga and have their own language and customs.
- Maram Naga: These Nagas are known for their traditional clothing and customs.
- Monsang Naga: They are a smaller group of the Tangkhul Naga and have special cultural practices.
- Moyon Naga: Like the Mao Naga, they have their own language and customs.
- Paite Naga: They have their own special customs and traditions.
- Poumai Naga: They also have their own language and customs.
- Purum Naga: They have their unique customs and traditions too.
- Ralte Naga: Like the other sub-tribes, they have their own language and customs.
- Rongmei Naga (Kabui Naga): They also have their special customs and traditions.
- Simte Naga: Just like the others, they have their own language and customs.
- Suhte Naga: They have their own unique customs and traditions.
- Thadou Naga: They have their own language and customs.
- Thangal Naga: They also have their special customs and traditions.
- Vaiphei Naga: Like the rest, they have their own language and customs.
- Zeme Naga: They have their unique customs and traditions.
- Zou Naga: They also have their own language and customs.
Kom Tribe of Manipur
The Kom tribe is a group of indigenous people in Manipur, India, with around 15,988 members as of 2001. They live mainly in Churachandpur and Senapati districts and share similarities with the Lamkang tribe in clothing and surnames.
The Kom people are primarily farmers, growing rice, potatoes, millets, and maize. They also raise animals like pigs, fowls, goats, cows, buffaloes, and mithun. They are known for their artistic skills in house construction and artwork, and they excel in weaving.
Their culture is rich, and many of them practice Christianity. While they used to follow traditional marriage customs, modern marriages are based on mutual consent.
The Kom tribe’s origin is believed to be from the Shakripung area in the Chiru hills. They settled in Manipur around 200 A.D., possibly migrating from Mongolia through China and Burma before coming to Tripura, Assam, and Manipur.
The Kom people speak the Kom language as their primary language and Meitei as their secondary language. According to the 2001 Census of India, there were 14,602 Kom tribe members, mostly located in Churachandpur and Senapati districts of Manipur.
Mate Tribe of Manipur
The Mate tribe is a native group living in the Senapati district of Manipur, India. They are known for their way of life, culture, and have been the focus of many studies. The tribe is linked to Tuibuong, which is like their main meeting place. Researchers have looked into things like how many people are in the tribe and the things they use in their daily lives. This shows that people are interested in learning about their community. Even though we can’t find all the details about their customs and traditions in our search, it’s clear that the Mate tribe is important in the culture of Manipur.
Inpui Tribe of Manipur
The Inpui Tribe lives in North-East India. They are famous for growing rice in a special way. Here are some important things to know about them:
- Paddy Seed Bank: The Inpui tribe has a place where they keep many different types of rice seeds that can grow well in different kinds of weather, soil, and forests.
- Traditional Practice: For a very long time, the Inpui tribe has been doing things the same way when it comes to growing rice. They learned these ways from their ancestors.
- Centenary Function: In the year 2014, the Inpui tribe had a big celebration with the theme “To God be the glory.”
- Demographic Statistics: We don’t know a lot about how many Inpui tribe members there are, but we do have information about some other tribes in Manipur, like the Mate and Tarao tribes.
- Fieldwork: In 2014, a person named A Lozaanba Khumbah went to study how the Inpui tribe grows rice in the fields. They wanted to learn more about their traditional way of farming.
Maram Tribe of Manipur
The Maram tribe is one of the Naga tribes from North East India, and they live in Manipur. They are known for their very old ways of catching fish and their special celebrations. The Maram tribe lives in a big part of Senapati district in Manipur. People have studied the Maram tribe’s old stone rituals to learn about their ancient traditions. The tribe has fun fishing festivals like Karjoi every year, where they use traditional fishing methods. The Maram tribe’s customs and traditions are an important part of the North East India tribal culture.
Zou Tribe Manipur
The Zou tribe is one of the original groups of people who have lived in Manipur, India for a very long time. They are special because they have their own way of doing things, like their own language. This language is similar to other languages spoken in the area.
Just like many other groups in the region, the Zou tribe loves music, dancing, and having big celebrations. They also know how to catch fish in traditional ways, which means they’ve been doing it for a very long time.
The Zou tribe has its own unique culture and is an important part of the culture in Manipur.
Mao Tribe Manipur
The Mao tribe is an important group of people who are part of the Nagas, a bunch of tribes living in the far eastern part of India and the western border of the Tribal region in Manipur. They are found in the Senapati district, which is in the northern part of Manipur. This area is surrounded by Nagaland state to the north, Thoubal and Bisnupur districts to the south, Ukhrul District to the east, and Tamenlong district to the west.
The Mao tribe mostly eats food they find locally, like wild vegetables, fruits, and animals from the forest. A study showed that the adult Mao tribe in Manipur has a normal weight according to the World Health Organization (WHO) standards. This might be because of their food and lifestyle.
The Mao tribe, like other tribal people in North-East India, lives in the forest and follows their own traditions and food habits. It’s a good idea to do more research and programs to help improve the Mao tribe’s nutrition.
Manipur Tribe Name
Here is the list of tribes in Manipur which cover all the 33 tribes of Manipur:
- Meitei
- Aimol
- Anal
- Chiru
- Chothe
- Gangte
- Hmar
- Khoibu
- Kom
- Mao
- Maram
- Maring
- Naga tribes (various Naga tribes)
- Kuki tribes (various Kuki tribes)
- Zeliangrong
- Tangkhul
- Kabui
- Thadou
- Paite
- Vaiphei
- Zou
- Simte
- Rongmei
- Liangmei
- Poumai
- Lamkang
- Monsang
- Tarao
- Koireng
- Anal Maram
- Anal Pangan
- Anal Kharam
- Anal Wanglar
List of Scheduled Tribes in Manipur
These groups of people in Manipur are officially known as Scheduled Tribes (STs) according to the Indian Constitution. This special recognition gives them some helpful advantages and safeguards. The list of Scheduled Tribes in Manipur consists of:
- Aimol
- Anal
- Angami
- Chiru
- Chothe
- Gangte
- Hmar
- Koireng
- Kom
- Lamgang
- Mao (including Memei)
- Maram
- Marang
- Monsang
- Moyon
- Paite
- Purum
- Ralte
- Sema
- Simte
- Suhte
- Tangkhul
- Thadou
- Vaiphei
- Zou
FAQs on Tribes of Manipur
How many tribes are there in Manipur?
In Manipur, there are over 30 distinct tribes. These tribes belong to various ethnic groups, each with its unique culture and language.
Who is Meitei and Kuki?
Meitei, also known as Meetei, are the primary community in Manipur's valley regions, known for their rich culture and history. Kuki refers to a group of tribes in Manipur's hill areas, each with distinct customs and traditions.
Which is the oldest tribe in Manipur?
Identifying the oldest tribe in Manipur is challenging due to the region's ancient and complex history. However, the Meitei are often considered one of the oldest, with a rich cultural heritage dating back centuries.
Where did Meitei come from?
The Meitei are believed to have originated in the Manipur valley. Their history is deeply rooted in this region, and they have been central to Manipur's cultural and political landscape for centuries.
Which is the largest tribe in Manipur?
The Naga tribe is one of the largest in Manipur, with several sub-tribes. They inhabit the hill districts of the state and have a significant cultural and social presence.
Is Aimol a Kuki or Naga?
The Aimol tribe is categorized under the Kuki group of tribes in Manipur. They are known for their distinct cultural practices and reside mainly in the interior hill areas of the state.
