212. Shaphee Lanphee

Shaphee Lanphee is a type of Shawl which is specially made by needle work without frame over the Loin Loom fabric woven by Meitei Women. It is worn by the Nagas of Manipur as a special recognition of Honour. Literally, the name of Shaphee is the fabric of animal and Lanphee is the fabric of war. 

The shawl of Shaphee Lanphee is a special cloth which was used to be presented as rewards/awards by the Meitei Kings to the worthy Naga Chiefs of Manipur. It marks as pride and respect to the person who possess it. The stylized motifs of the Shaphee Lanphee are now popularly used as waist coat with synthetic lining.

Shaphee Lanphee have black background and red border fabric decorated with 10 different stylized motifs, namely, Shamu (elephant), Shagol (horse), Iroichi (buffalo horn), Nga (fish), Numit (sun), Tha (moon), Thawanmichak (star), Phantup (seat), Ta (spear) and Wahong (peacock). All the stylized motifs are embroidered with needle manually with cotton threads.

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The fabric is first embroidered with 40 Nos. of Thwanmichak (the Star) in two extreme margins of the fabric. Secondly, 20 Nos. of Ta (the Spear) and 10 Nos. of Phantup (the magical seat) in two sides in the second row of the fabric are embroidered and the third row is repeated with another set of 20 Nos. of Thwanmichak (the Star) having 10 Thwanmichak in each side. 

The fourth row is embroidered with 10 Nos. of Iroichi (the buffalo horn) in two sides having 5 Iroichi in each side. Fifth row is represented by five motifs, namely, two Numit (two Sun), two Tha (two Moon) and one Shagol (one Horse) in the middle in each side. Therefore, there are 4 Numit, 4 Tha and two Shagol together in the fabric.

In the middle, there are two Wahong (two Peacocks) in the outer margin and two Nga (two Fishes) and two Shamu (two elephants) in the inner centre. Unlike such other embroidery, the work on Shaphee Lanphee embroidery is done without any frame support. It starts the manual embroidery from right to left horizontally by a needle. The stitching method is locally known as pumhanba, means repeat threading.

The philosophical concept of the different motifs which are needed in the Shaphee Lanphee is that the floral design with the red core is significance the Sun. The white patches at the ends are significance of the stars and the other heavenly bodies in the sky. The concept of the moon and the sun are the symbols of mother and father.

The significances of this cloth of attractive motifs are the representation of the relationship between the celestial bodies and the Meitei King. The celestial bodies like sun, moon, star, etc. are the symbolization of the supreme power of mother and father. The motifs of Phantup (magical seat) and the elephant symbolize the royalty. The motifs of spear heads and the fishes are connected with the myth of King Naothingkhong (663-763 A. D.).

A Shaphee Lanphee is required both the hand weaving and embroidery work with needle. Like normal fabric, it is required warp thread, weft thread and embroidery thread. Weaving in Manipur, from early period, used mainly the fibres extracted from “Lashing” (Cotton ball) and “Kabrang” (Mulberry cocoon) and also extracted from the bark of a kind of tree called “Santhak” Urtica sp.).

GI Tag Registration Date         : 31 March 2014

GI Tag Number                         : 371

Certificate Number                  : 211

Geographical Area                  : Manipur

Special Cover Release Date   : 19 November 2021

Cancellation                             : Imphal 795 001

Type                                          : GI Tag Cover

Cover Identification Number  : NE/27/2021-2022

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208. Chak-Hao

Chak-Hao, is scented glutinous rice which is cultivated since centuries and characterized by its mild rusty taste and special aroma. It is traditionally improved variety which is cultivated in many pockets of the State of Manipur & Nagaland. The literal meaning of Chak Hao is ‘delicious rice’ (Chak – rice; Hao-delicious).

Chak-Hao, the Black rice of Manipur belongs to Asian cultivated rice Oryza sativa L. subspecies lndica. The grain of this aromatic rice are large and according to length / breadth ratio, it has dark purple hue in its outer bran layer that are so intense that the rice appears to be black. Once cooked, the black colour usually turns deep purple. 

The Chak-hao rice came into existence in the state since the reign of King Meitinggu Nongda Lairen Pakhangba (33 AD-154 AD) of Manipur mentioned that Chak-Hao Poireiton is named after King Poireiton in his book 'Meitei Ningthourol'

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It has high concentration of anthocyanin, which are flavonoids that perform, as antioxidants in the body. It owes its dark colour to the high concentration of Anthocyanin. It is stickier than regular rice due to lower amylase content and higher amylopectin content. The rice is glutinous, but it contains no gluten. Due to very low amylase content it is sticky and moist after cooking. 

Chak-Hao takes the longer cooking time of 40 to 43 minutes due to the presence of the fibrous bran layer and higher crude fiber content. Chak-Hao is famous for its characteristic aroma and high concentration of minerals, fiber, vitamins and antioxidants.

In the past, it is not cultivated on commercial scale as it is not used as a staple food. However, at present it is grown in larger areas. Nutty in taste, the glutinous scented rice is excellent in rice pudding. 

Chak-Hao is normally eaten during community feast and also served as Chak-Hao kheer. Chak-Hao has also been used by the traditional medical practitioners of Manipur as part of traditional medicine. The rice water too used to wash hair to make it stronger. 

It is high in nutritional value with high concentration of fibre and is a rich source of B vitamins, niacin, vitamin E, iron, calcium manganese and zinc. It has anti-inflammatory properties, and has the ability to help stop the development of diabetes, cancer, heart disease and even weight gain.

GI Tag Registration Date         : 20 April 2020

GI Tag Number                         : 602

Certificate Number                  : 364

Geographical Area                  : Manipur, Nagaland

Special Cover Release Date   : 12 November 2021

Cancellation                             : Imphal 795 001

Type                                          : GI Tag Cover

Cover Identification Number  : NE/26/2021-2022

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207. Wangkhei Phee

Wangkhei Phee is fine cotton and see through fabric used by women as a special item for special occasions in Manipur. The fabric is very delicate one in fine white cotton yarn and the interlacement of weft and warp in the series are woven far apart from each other, and as such, the cloth is fully transparent.

This delicate fabric is known as “Wangkhei Phee” because it was first developed by skilled weavers in the Wangkhei area within the Imphal East District of Manipur, for the royal family. It is a fine variety and close-knitted texture woven by female weavers. The designs are used in various items like Inaphee (chaddar), Phanek (sarong/women's lungies), Dhoti, Sarees, Girls’ skirts and for school uniforms.

Patches of a uniform design are woven on the cloth at wide intervals throughout the body of the cloth. Originally, this piece of muslin cloth was uniformly made in white. This muslin cloth survives noticeably in developed form. Till date, in a variety of designs both on the body of the cloth and at the borders in various colours are used.

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The Manipur weavers had been weaving this kind of cloth by using the extra weft technique designs of Kheiroithek, Thangjing Tangkhai, Kabok Chaiba and many others with Moirang Pheejin Design in the border. This kind of cloth is very popularly adorned by the Manipuri women and girls on the occasions of marriage ceremony, in a wide scale in Manipur.

The cloth has its peculiar designs with different motifs, viz; Namthang Khuthat weave, inumit chura (sunrise head gear), khoi (hook), thambal (lotus), thangjing tangkhai (half euryle ferox), atargulap (rose), khongup melei (a kind of orchid), Angom Ningthou (Royal symbol), Jubakusum (floral), leaves, raining night, angoor charong (grapes bunch) etc.

The fibre used for making the yarn is derived from "Lashing" (Cotton ball) and "Kabrang" (Mulberry cocoon). It is also extracted from the bark of the tree species locally known as "Santhak" (Urtica sp.). The local fibre is spun into threads and then dyed using the extracts of plants, bark, leaves, and flowers. The dyed yarn is subject to sizing through the application of a rice-based starch, following by stretching with the help of a bamboo stick, and then wound onto the bobbins and pirns.

Wangkhei Phee is produced either by throw shuttle loom or fly shuttle loom. On fly shuttle loom, the Wangkhei Phee is woven in a single piece as a complete fabric. However, it is woven in two pieces on throw shuttle loom which will be stitched together after they are woven so as to make it a complete. In order to produce a Wangkhei Phee, three shuttles are used, one is conventional shuttle used for body weft thread and two smaller shuttles for extra weft. 

Two weavers are involved when the fabric is woven with three shuttles on fly shuttle loom. Only one weaver can be woven if the fabric is woven on throw shuttle loom as the width of the fabric is smaller size for stitching together after the fabrics are woven to make it a complete end product.

GI Tag Registration Date         : 31 March 2014

GI Tag Number                         : 372

Certificate Number                  : 212

Geographical Area                  : Manipur

Special Cover Release Date   : 12 November 2021

Cancellation                             : Imphal 795 001

Type                                          : GI Tag Cover

Cover Identification Number  : NE/28/2021-2022

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148. Moirang Phee

Moirang Phee is a name of fabric originated from the Moirang and the design pattern of pronged teeth of the “Pakhangba”, the Pythonic God of the Manipur mythology called “Moirang Pheejin” is woven along the longitudinal border of the fabric.

The name of this Moirang Phee fabric was also known as Yarongphi in local name which mean; ya = tooth, rong = long = longba = pronged and Phee = cloth. The teeth of Pakhangba pointed upward and when arranged in a regular and uniform series, have appealing touch in the aesthetic perception of the people. 

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According to the text of manuscript “Loiyumba Silyen”, King Meidingu Loiyumba (1074-1122 AD) distributed the work of weaving of this kind of fabric ‘Yarongphi’ to the family of “Thongakpam Clan”. Later on, the fabric was the textile item which the Moirang paid as annual tribute to the Meitei Kings  during the monarchical period in Manipur.

Any colour of fabric of chaddar or half saree or stole woven with Moirang Pheejin will become the Moirang Phee.  It is possible to weave only handloom, either Loin Loom, Throw shuttle or Fly Shuttle Loom. Two throw shuttles are used for producing a complete fabric of Moirang Phee, one for the design and another for the main body.

Weaving from early period, used mainly the fibres extracted from “Lashing” (Cotton ball) and “Kabrang” (Mulberry cocoon) and also extracted from the bark of a kind of tree called “Santhak” (Urtica sp.). The local fibre was spun into thread and dyed locally with the plants, bark, plants, etc available locally.

The designs are woven in different odd steps elongating towards the middle of the fabric parallel to weft threads. The elongated part are taken on odd numbers as 3 (three) steps, 5 (five) steps, 7 (seven) steps, 9 (nine) steps, 11 (eleven) steps and so on. The odd steps are the extended portion of weft threads from the margin of the selvedge of the fabric.

In saree, the design are woven in two sizes, smaller for blouse and larger for main body of the saree. The Moirang Phee fabric is also used in the following items: Inaphee (chaddar), Phanek (sarong/ladies’ lungies), Dhoti, Girls’ skirts and a model design for school uniform. The Design is woven in all the luxurious local cloths which are used during different occasions related to marriage, festival, public function, ritual, etc.

GI Tag Registration Date         : 31 March 2014

GI Tag Number                         : 373

Certificate Number                  : 213

Geographical Area                  : Manipur

Special Cover Release Date   : 26 September 2021

Cancellation                             : Imphal 795 001

Type                                          : GI Tag Cover

Cover Identification Number  : NE/14/2021-22

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053. Kachai Lemon

Kachai lemon (Scientific name: Citrus jambhiri) is a high yielding landrace of lemon, also known as Champra is grown extensively in the surrounding areas of Kachai village,Ukhrul District, Manipur. Kachai lemon fruits are spheroid in shape and yellow in colour. The rind colour is white and the pulp colour is yellow. The skin of the fruit is rough.

The fruits have high economic value . It is consumed as fresh fruit and also used for making juice and pickles. Citrus fruits are well known for their vitamin C content, but are also good sources of vitamin A, folic acid, and dietary fiber.

Kachai lemon is commonly grown in the fertile soil, depending on natural resources, decomposed materials etc. Water is the scarcest commodity during winter months in hill region. However, plants survive mainly due to heavy fog in winter prevalent in this region.

The bearing plants of Kachai Lemon look like flowering trees during harvesting time. The main fruiting time starts from November and continues till April. The fruit is a rich source of Ascorbic Acid, containing 46-51 mg/100 ml juice.

The uniqueness of the fruit lies in its bearing habit. Even if it gets ripened it doesn’t fall from the tree. Fruit will become small and turns into green from yellow, and then it grows again in the next fruiting season.

GI Tag Registration Date         : 27 March 2015

GI Tag Number                         : 466

Certificate Number                  : 232

Geographical Area                  : Manipur

Special Cover Release Date   : 12 August 2021

Cancellation                             : Imphal 795 001

Type                                          : GI Tag Special Cover

Cover Identification Number  : NE/03/2021-2022

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