Manipur

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Discover the hidden gems of Manipur

The northeastern state is known for its natural beauty with many places that should not be missed.

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Manipur’s decreasing bamboo supply hurts artisans

Urbanization is claiming another ancient industry -- bamboo artisans – as sprawling construction means not only less bamboo cover but competing demands for it from scaffolding makers.

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Manipur’s folk-rock band hits the right notes

Featherheads Haokui, an Indigenous music band from Ukhrul promotes the unique culture and oral traditions of the Tangkhul Naga Community through their folk-rock music.

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Hanjabam Radhe: from child bride to dress designer to Padma Shri

Manipur’s 90-year-old Hanjabam Ongbi Radhe Sharmi, who promotes potloi setpi – the traditional bridal dress of Manipur’s Meitei community – is happy with gaining recognition through her Padma Shri award. But she believes the government should financially support artisans like her during their old age.

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Plastic cuts into pottery culture – but not in Manipur

The signature red pottery of Thongjao village is spun by women who have never faced any dip in demand because Manipur locals prefer clay earthenware to plastic and aluminium, especially in festivals and religious rituals.

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How Manipur’s rural women are weaving wonders from Kauna weed

Organic baskets, mats and other decorative handicrafts made of kauna grass grown in the marshes of the Imphal valley are providing a sustainable livelihood to women and their families.

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Manipur’s uncommon ‘salt of the earth’ and the threat to its legacy

Thumpak, the traditional salt cakes of Manipur, are still used for rituals, but their demand for everyday use has dwindled with the proliferation of commercial packaged salt.

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Cost-effective jalkunds help Manipur’s farmers tide over water woes

With climate-induced erratic rainfall affecting agriculture, the farmers of Manipur turn to jalkunds – low-cost water harvesting structures that go beyond irrigation needs and double their income.

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Manipuri women revive village republics for all-round development

Despite dwindling forest resources that had traditionally sustained them, villagers in Churachandpur district of Manipur have successfully shifted to growing new crops, and are now exploring new livelihood options

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Women feel the heat of climate change in rural Manipur

Women farmers in Manipur, who play a significant role in the state's agriculture, are struggling to grow crops in an increasingly hostile environment of north-east India