Svetlafz at 13:38, 1 July 2025

2025-07-01T13:38:03Z

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{{Short description|Religious festival of Manipuri Goddess Imoinu}}
{{Distinguish|Panthoibi Iratpa}}
{{Infobox holiday
|holiday_name = Imoinu Iratpa
|image = Emoinu - Goddess of wealth.jpg
|caption = [[Imoinu Ahongbi]], goddess of wealth
|type = [[Sanamahism]]
|frequency = Annual
|observances = [[Prayers]]
|observedby = [[Meitei people]]
|celebrations = Lights being lit up at every households
|longtype = [[Religious]]
|date = 12th lunar day of Wakching month of [[Meitei calendar]]
}}
'''Imoinu Iratpa''' or '''Emoinu Iratpa''' or '''Wakching Taranithoini Pānba''' is a religious [[festival]] celebrated by the [[Meitei people]]. It is a festival of lights dedicated to the goddess of wealth and prosperity, [[Imoinu Ahongbi]]. The festival is celebrated on the twelfth lunar day of Wakching month of [[Meitei calendar]]. The festival is celebrated in [[Manipur]], [[Assam]] and [[Tripura]] [[States and union territories of India|states]] in [[North Eastern India]] and observed by some in the neighboring [[Myanmar]]. The festival involves sacrifices and prayers to the goddess, followed by various other cultural events.

== Etymology ==
''Iratpa'' means "sacrifice" and ''Imoinu Iratapa'' translates to "sacrifice to the goddess Imoinu" in [[Meitei language]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Recent Researches in Oriental Indological Studies Including Meiteilogy|first=Moirangthem|last=Kirti Singh|year=1998|publisher=Parimal Publications|page=65}}</ref> The festival is also known as ''Wakching Taranithoini Paanba'', which translates to the "twelfth day of Wakching" (''Taranithoini'' meaning "twelfth day" and ''Panba'' meaning "to be"), referring to the day on which the festival is celebrated.<ref name="Fish"/>

== Background ==
The festival is dedicated to mother goddess [[Imoinu Ahongbi]].<ref name="Telegraph"/> Goddess Imoinu or Emoinu is considered as the goddess of wealth and prosperity, peace, wisdom, vitality and resources.<ref name="IFP"/> Imoinu is believed to be an [[:simple:Incarnations of Leimarel Sidabi|incarnation]] of [[Leimarel Sidabi]], wife of Supreme God [[Atingkok|Sidaba]]. Leimarel Sidabi is the first woman and she created the second Leimarel, who was to take care of the human beings on [[earth]], who was named as Imoinu Ahongbi.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=reviews.books.emoinu|title=Emoinu Ahongbi Thounirol (A Traditional adoration to Goddess Emoinu)|work=E-pao|access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref> According to a Meitei mythology, goddess Emoinu visits earth every year on the day and visits every home to shower her blessings.<ref name="Telegraph"/> According to Meitei history, the worship of Emoinu began in the fifth century CE when the royal family worshiped the goddess and later by the 15th century CE, the common people also began to worship her.<ref name="Telegraph"/>

== Occurrence ==
Imoinu Iratapa is celebrated on the 12th of lunar day of the Wakching month of the [[Meitei calendar]].<ref name="IFP1"/><ref name="Telegraph">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/meiteis-celebrate-emoinu/cid/1627030|title=Meiteis celebrate Emoinu|date=3 January 2015|newspaper=Telegraph India|access-date=1 December 2023|first=Indrakanta|last=Ngangbam}}</ref> It usually falls on the month of December-January in the [[Gregorian calendar]].<ref name="News18">{{cite news|url=https://www.news18.com/news/lifestyle/what-is-imoinu-iratpa-and-why-is-it-a-bank-holiday-in-imphal-6744121.html|title=What is Imoinu Iratpa and Why is it a Bank Holiday in Imphal?|date=3 January 2023|access-date=1 December 2023|work=News18}}</ref>

== Observance ==
Imoinu Iratapa is a festival of lights, celebrated by the [[Meitei people]] following the traditional religion [[Sanamahism]].<ref name="IFP1">{{cite news|url=https://www.ifp.co.in/festival/significance-of-imoinu-eratpa-festival-for-people-of-manipur|title=Significance of Imoinu Eratpa Festival for people of Manipur|date=15 January 2022|newspaper=Imphal Free Press|access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Concise Encyclopaedia of India|year=2006|page=1198|isbn=978-8-126-90639-0|publisher=Atlantic Publishers|editor1=K.R. Gupta|editor2=Amita Gupta}}</ref> The festival is also observed by Meitei people, who follow other religions such as [[Hinduism]].<ref name="Telegraph"/> The festival is celebrated in [[Manipur]], [[Assam]] and [[Tripura]] [[States and union territories of India|states]] in [[North Eastern India]].<ref>{{cite book|title=India, a Reference Annual|year=2014|page=998|publisher=Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.imphaltimes.com/news/cm-wishes-on-ima-imoinu-iratpa-numit/|title=CM wishes on Ima Imoinu Iratpa numit|first=Rinku|last=Khumukcham|date=17 January 2019|newspaper=Imphal Times|access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref> It is also observed by some of the people settled in the neighboring [[Myanmar]].<ref name="IFP">{{cite news|url=https://www.ifp.co.in/manipur/imoinu-eratpa-festival-celebrated-across-manipur|title=Imoinu Eratpa festival celebrated across Manipur|date=15 January 2022|newspaper=Imphal Free Press|access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref> It is a [[Public holidays in India|public holiday]] in Manipur.<ref name="News18"/>

== Practices ==
During the festival, people offer [[rice]], [[vegetables]], [[fruits]] and [[sweets]] to the goddess Imoinu.<ref name="IFP"/> At night time, people light [[candles]] and other decorated lights are put up in the streets.<ref name="Telegraph"/><ref name="IFP1"/> A good meal with [[Fish curry (disambiguation)|fish curry]] as the main dish is offered to the deity at the ''funga lairu'', the traditional fire place in the kitchen.<ref name="Telegraph"/> Apart from worship at individual homes, various rituals are also organized at the community level.<ref name="Telegraph"/> The day is marked through prayers to the goddess, followed by various other cultural events. It also features a religious procession the night before the formal prayers. The procession is led by [[Maiba]]s and [[Maibi]]s, wherein the idol of goddess Imoinu is taken to Meitei households amongst song and music.<ref name="E-pao1"/>

The people perform music from the traditional musical instrument ''[[Pena (musical instrument)|pena]]'' and traditional dances like ''[[Khamba Thoibi]]'' and ''[[Maibi Jagoi]]''. Tales about the goddess Imoinu are told and songs are sung invoking the deity.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=7..030115.jan15|title=Imoinu Iratpa extensively held all over|date=2 January 2015|access-date=1 December 2023|work=E-pao}}</ref> Traditional [[martial art]] performance of ''[[Huiyen Lallong|Thang-Ta]]'' using a [[sword]] (''Thang'') and a [[spear]] (''Ta'') is also performed.<ref name="E-pao1">{{cite news|url=https://www.e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=11..100109.jan09|title=Imoinu Iratapa observed, 2023 held|date=9 January 2009|access-date=1 December 2023|work=E-pao}}</ref>

Since 2022, a fish fair or fish festival is being organized as a part of the festival, in the days leading up the main festival day.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=36..040123.jan23|title=First Imoinu Fish Festival, 2023 held|date=3 January 2023|access-date=1 December 2023|work=E-pao}}</ref> The Emoinu fish festival is conducted to procure the necessary fish for the festival and encourage [[aquaculture]].<ref name="Fish">{{cite news|url=https://thenortheastaffairs.com/fish-fair-at-emoinu-festival-on-jan-3-in-manipur/|title=Fish fair at Emoinu Festival on Jan 3 in Manipur|date=29 December 2022|access-date=1 December 2023|newspaper=North-East Affairs}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Public holidays in India}}

[[Category:Meitei festivals]]
[[Category:Religious festivals in India]]

Imoinu Iratpa - Revision history

Svetlafz at 13:38, 1 July 2025