Situated in Bishnupur district in the state of Manipur, the small town of Moirang is located at a distance of 45 km south of the state capital, Imphal. Moirang was once a focal point of the state"s early Meitei culture, the official language spoken in the area is Meiteilon.
Legend of Moirang
As per historical records, the town of Moirang is famous for its ancient temple of the pre- Hindu deity, Lord Thangjing. Surrounding this temple is a legend about the love story of Khamba- Thoibi, where Thoibi was the daughter of King Chinkhuba and Khamba was a young orphan, who was raised by his sister. In the village of Ngangkhaleikai, the old cloth used by Khamba and Nongban are still preserved.
History of Moirang
In the ancient times, the ruler of Moirang was considered to be the most powerful king among the seven clan kings of the state of Manipur. The Burmese king used to pay the money for the annual war reparations to the Moirang King, up to the end of the Khamba- Thoibi era. During the Second World War, the town of Moirang also served as the headquarters of Azad Hind Fauj. For the first time, the Indian flag was hoisted in the country in Moirang on 14th April, 1944 by Colonel Shaukat Malik of the Indian National Army (INA). This was done with the help of the Manipuri people, including Shri Mairembam Koireng Singh, who were the members of INA. In Moirang, there is also an Indian National Army Museum depicting their struggle for India`s independence.
Demographics of Moirang
Spreading over an area of 269 sq. km, Moirang is divided into 12 wards for which elections are held every 5 years. According to the reports of Census India 2011, the Moirang Municipal Council has population of 19,893 of which 9,841 are males while 10,052 are females. The population of children between the ages 0 to 6 years is 2,189, out of which the female sex ratio is 1021, which is higher than the state average of 985.
Culture of Moirang
The Meitei folk culture of Moirang is greatly famed and the place celebrates a number of festivals including the Moirang Haraoba festival. This traditional festival is celebrated in the month of May annually, when both men and women, in throngs, dance and sing in the honour of Lord Thangjing. Everyone in gorgeous traditional costumes, sing and dance in honour of the Lord here.
Moirang also owns the credit of being the place where the graceful Khamba- Thoibi dance originated. This dance form is the exquisite depiction of the Manipuri folk culture. The dance is characterized by female dance performers, singers and vibrant and ethnic costumes.
Attractions of Moirang
The Indian National Army (INA) complex is a popular tourist attraction as the place holds a significant place in the history of Indian freedom struggle. The museum houses a collection of letters, photographs, badges of ranks and other war memorabilia that reminds the visitors of the noble sacrifices made by the INA soldiers under the leadership of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Apart from the museum, some of the other popular attractions in Moirang are the Sendra Island, Keibul Lamjao National Park, and the Loktak Lake which is the largest freshwater lake in the north east.
Visiting Information on Moirang
The Jiribam railway station in Imphal is the nearest at a distance of about 194 from Moirang and the Imphal Airport is the closest at a distance of 37 km from the town.
