A Heritage in Handlooms and Handicrafts It is said that the goddess "Panthoibi" drew her inspiration for weaving from a spider making cobwebs in a corner. While, almost every house-hold in Manipur owns a loom-womenfolk alone are the weavers. Intricate designs are woven on sarees, sarongs, shawls and bedspreads The handloom industry is the largest cottage industry in Manipur, with the finished items often being exported. Manipuri Pottery is crafted vathout a potter's wheel. It is a rare experience to witness the potters of Andro, Thongjao and Nungbi deftly moulding an unbelievable range of earthenware. Beautiful pieces of art made out of cane and bamboo form an important part of handicrafts. Tourists can take home a Lifan, Phak (weed mats), Phiruk, Manipuri Dolls & a host of other beautiful carvings from rare and exotic varieties of timber

Flora Exotica Blessed with an amazing variety of flora and fauna, 67% of the geograph- ical area of Manipur is hill tract covered with forests. Depending on the altitude of hill ranges, the forests range from tropical to subalpine. The vmt forests, the temperate forests and the pine forests occur between 900-2700m above MSL and they together sustain a host of rare and endemic plant and animal fife. Coveted the ~rid over as some of the most beautiful and precious blooms, orchids have an aura of the exotic, mysterious east about them. In Manipur, they abound in their natural habitat growing in soil or on trees and shrubs, spreading their beauty and colour, stunning the eye that is not used to seeing them in such profusion. There are 500 varieties of orchids which grow in Manipur of which 472 have been identified. The Hoolock Gibbon, the Slow Loris, the Clouded Leopard, the Spotted Linshang. Mrs. Hume's Barbacked Pheasant, Blyths Tragopan, Burmese Pea-Fowl, four different species of Hombills etc. form only a part of the rich natural heritage of Manipur. However, the most unique is the 'Sanga!@- the dancing deer. The floating mass of vegetation on the Loktak lake sustains small herds of this endemic deer which unfortunately has the dubious distinction of being the most threatened cervid in the world. 

Gestures in Poetry Manipur is a mosaic of traditions and cultural patterns. In the field of art and culture, the State is best represented by its classical and folk-dance forms..Ras Leela songs and dances depict the Leelas (Sports) of Lord Krishna as a child with the Gopis (milkmaids) of Brindavan, and express their yearning for communion with the Lord. The Raas Dances are essentially lyrical and have extremely graceful movements. A spring festival, the "Lai-Haraoba" held in April and May is symbolised by a traditional, stylised and ritualistic dance performed for peace and prosperity. The Tribal folk dances of Manipur are an expression of nature, creatikity and aestheticism of the tribal way of fife

The people and tribes of Manipur include Meities, Naga and Kuki-Chin-Mizo groups and other colourful communities which have lived in complete harmony for centuries. These are the people whose folklore, myths and legends, dances, indigenous games and martial arts, exotic handlooms and handicrafts, are invested with the mystique of nature and an indefatigable 'joie de vivre". The wonders are never ending, the place is Manipur.

A Tradition of indigenous games The tradition of sports dates back to the political history of Manipur-a history of smafl kingdoms which were in keen competition with one another. Wars between Manipur and Burma resulted in a martial tradition, which in turn, gave due impetus to the promotion of sports. "Sagol Kangjei" (Polo)-originated in Manipur. The game flourished during the reign of a long dynasty of Kings. The Manipur Pony is the most versatile, swift and agile Polo pony in the world. ft is still a popular game- international players participate in tournaments at Imphal. "Mukna Kangjei" (Wrestling-Hockey) is also a -very popular game in Manipur. A player often encounters an opponent while attempting to carry or hit the hall towards the goal. This encounter develops into a trial of strength known as Mukna. "Yupi-Lakpi" (Rugby) is played, using a greased coconut. The box area of the field which is beyond the goal fine, is the centre of action. The players attempt to carry the coconut into the box and pass the goal line against the opponents.