# 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 lunar calendar used by the Meitei people of Manipur for their religious, agricultural and other cultural activities. New moon is counted at the end of each month and has twelve months in total. The concept of era in Meitei calendar was first developed by Emperor Maliyafam Palcha, in the year 1397 BCE (Palcha Era), in the realm of ancient Kangleipak (in present-day Manipur). It is believed that the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th and 7th months of the Meitei calendar were named after Poireiton's agricultural activities. Similar to Gregorian calendar, the Meitei calendar also consists of twelve months and seven days but the starting date with the Gregorian calendar is different. The new year day known as, Sajibu Cheiraoba is celebrated on the 1st day of the month Sajibu.

## 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
* Yaosang (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

## Preservation

Many social associations and organizations are preserving and promoting the traditional calendar of the Meitei people of Manipur.