Meitei calendar
The Meitei calendar (Meitei: ꯃꯩꯇꯩ ꯊꯥꯄꯥꯟꯂꯣꯟ, romanized: Meitei Thaapaanlon) or the Manipuri calendar (Meitei: ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯤ ꯊꯥꯄꯥꯟꯂꯣꯟ, romanized: Manipuri Thaapaanlon) or the Kangleipak calendar (Meitei: ꯀꯪꯂꯩꯄꯥꯛ ꯊꯥꯄꯥꯟꯂꯣꯟ, romanized: Kangleipaak Thaapaanlon) or the Maliyapham Palcha Kumshing (Meitei: ꯃꯂꯤꯌꯥꯐꯝ ꯄꯥꯜꯆꯥ ꯀꯨꯝꯁꯤꯡ, romanized: Maleeyaapham Paalchaa Koomsing) is a traditional lunar calendar invented and used by the Meitei ethnicity for religious and agricultural purposes. It was developed by Emperor Maliyapham Palcha (1359-1329 BCE) in (Palcha era) in Ancient Kangleipak (early Manipur).[1] Similar to the Gregorian calendar (Roman calendar), it also has twelve months in a year, four weeks in a month and seven days in a week.[2]
Days
| Sl. No. | Ancient Meitei | Latin-Roman transliteration | Modern Meitei | Latin-Roman transliteration | Roman equivalents | Ruling heavenly bodies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ꯅꯣꯡꯃꯥꯢꯆꯤꯡ | Nongmaiching | ꯅꯣꯡꯃꯥꯢꯖꯤꯡ | Nongmaijing | Sunday | Sun |
| 2 | ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧꯀꯥꯄ | Ningthoukaapa | ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧꯀꯥꯕ | Ningthoukaaba | Monday | Moon |
| 3 | ꯂꯩꯄꯥꯛꯄꯣꯛꯄ | Leipaakpokpa | ꯂꯩꯕꯥꯛꯄꯣꯛꯄ | Leibaakpokpa | Tuesday | Mars |
| 4 | ꯌꯨꯝꯁꯥꯀꯩꯁꯥ | Yumsakeisa | ꯌꯨꯝꯁꯀꯩꯁ | Yumsakeisa | Wednesday | Mercury |
| 5 | ꯁꯥꯀꯣꯜꯁꯦꯟ | Sakolsen | ꯁꯒꯣꯜꯁꯦꯟ | Sagolsen | Thursday | Jupiter |
| 6 | ꯏꯂꯥꯢ | Eelai | ꯏꯔꯥꯢ | Eerai | Friday | Venus |
| 7 | ꯊꯥꯡꯆ | Thaangcha | ꯊꯥꯡꯖ | Thaangja | Saturday | Saturn |
Months
| Ancient Meitei | Latin-Roman transliteration | Modern Meitei | Latin-Roman transliteration | Gregorian-Roman equivalents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ꯁꯆꯤꯐꯣꯢ (ꯆꯤꯟꯄꯤ) | Sachiphoy (Chinpi) | ꯁꯖꯤꯕꯨ | Sajibu | Apr-May |
| ꯀꯥꯟꯄꯤ | Kaanpee | ꯀꯥꯂꯦꯟ | Kaalen | May-Jun |
| ꯑꯁꯥꯎ | Asaau | ꯏꯉꯥ | Ee-ngaa | Jun-Jul |
| ꯍꯥꯂꯦꯡ | Haaleng | ꯏꯉꯦꯟ | Ee-ngen | Jul-Aug |
| ꯋꯥꯟꯇꯠ | Waantat | ꯊꯧꯋꯥꯟ | Thouwaan | Aug-Sept |
| ꯑꯆꯤꯠ (ꯂꯥꯡꯄꯟ) | Achit (Laangpan) | ꯂꯥꯡꯕꯟ | Laangban | Sept-Oct |
| ꯑꯥꯂꯦ (ꯃꯦꯂꯥ) | Aale (Melaa) | ꯃꯦꯔꯥ | Meraa | Oct-Nov |
| ꯆꯤꯛꯊꯝ (ꯍꯤꯌꯥꯡꯀꯩ) | Chiktham (Hiyaangkei) | ꯍꯤꯌꯥꯡꯒꯩ | Heeyaangei | Nov-Dec |
| ꯎꯟꯊꯝ | Untham | ꯄꯣꯢꯅꯨ | Poinu | Dec-Jan |
| ꯏꯟꯊꯝ | Eentham | ꯋꯥꯛꯆꯤꯡ | Waakching | Jan-Feb |
| ꯑꯁꯤꯠ (ꯐꯥꯢꯂꯦꯜ) | Ashit (Phailel) | ꯐꯥꯢꯔꯦꯜ | Fairel | Feb-Mar |
| ꯊꯥꯄꯤ | Thaapee | ꯂꯝꯇꯥ | Lamtaa | Mar-Apr |
Important days
- Ningol Chakouba (ꯅꯤꯉꯣꯜ ꯆꯥꯛꯀꯧꯕ) - 2nd of Hiyangei month
- Sajibu Nongma Panba (ꯁꯖꯤꯕꯨ ꯆꯩꯔꯥꯎꯕ) - 1st of Sajibu month
- Panthoibi Iratpa (ꯄꯥꯟꯊꯣꯢꯕꯤ ꯏꯔꯥꯠꯄ)
- Imoinu Iratpa (ꯏꯃꯣꯢꯅꯨ ꯏꯔꯥꯠꯄ) - 12th of Wakching month
- Sanamahi Ahong Khong Chingba (ꯁꯅꯥꯃꯍꯤ ꯑꯍꯣꯡ ꯈꯣꯡ ꯆꯤꯡꯕ)
- Kwaak Taanba (ꯀ꯭ꯋꯥꯛ ꯇꯥꯟꯕ) - 10th of Mera month
- Yaoshang (ꯌꯥꯎꯁꯪ) - 15th of Lamtaa month, full moon
- Heikru Hidongba (ꯍꯩꯀ꯭ꯔꯨ ꯍꯤꯗꯣꯡꯕ) - 11th of Langban month
- Mera Chaorel Houba (ꯃꯦꯔꯥ ꯆꯥꯎꯔꯦꯜ ꯍꯧꯕ) - 1st of Mera month
- Mera Hou Chongba (ꯃꯦꯔꯥ ꯍꯧ ꯆꯣꯡꯕ) - 15th of Mera month
Governing body
The governing body of the traditional Meitei calendar is the "Kangleipak Calendar Board", which annually organizes meetings at which the annual calendar is published officially.[3] The SEACO (South East Asian Cultural Organization) also organizes annual conference to preserve the cultural and traditional calendar of Ancient Manipur.[4]