Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Its people include the Meitei, Pangal (Muslims), Naga, and Kuki, Zomi and Gorkhali(Nepali) who speak different languages of branches of the Tibeto-Burman family. The MEITEI who live primarily in the state's valley region, form the primary ethnic group. The term Meitei now refers to five social groups – the Meitei marup (believe in only Meitei culture and God), Meitei Christians, Meitei goura Chaytonya (believe in both Meitei and Hindu gods), the Meitei Brahmins (Manipuri Brahmin locally called "Bamons") and the Meitei Muslims (called Miah Meitei or Pangal). All of them have Meiteilon as their mother-tongue. Their language, Meiteilon (also known as Manipuri), is the language in the state.
MANIPURI CUISINE
When we think of Manipuri food, the first things that come to our mind are ngari, eromba chamfoot, morok and the various herbs. Most Manipuri food is hot and rich U-morok which is also the same with Naga Mirch (or Raja Mirch) may not be as famous, but the highest number of this Chilli is planted and consumed in Manipur. Manipuris eat a lot of greens thereby gaining lots of vitamins. Most household in Manipur has a kitchen garden, so pesticides are not used and vegetables are healthy fresh. Growing and plucking the vegetables from one's own garden gives an unrivaled excitement. There are more than 200 varieties of Manipuri dishes. As the food is a combination of both spicy and boiled, the nutritional value content in the Manipuri cuisine gives you a healthy body. Some of the non-vegetarian food which is considered to be vegetarian dish in Manipuri cuisine is fish and an edible fresh water snail called Tharoi in the local lingo. There are three main types of Tharoi which is eaten in Manipur - Lai Tharoi, Labuk Tharoi and Tharoi Ningkhabi. Among the fishes are Sareng, Pengba, Rohu, Ngamu, Ngakra, Nganap, Ngakijou, Ngasep, Ngasang, Porom, Khabak, Phabou Nga,