Meetei Chanu

Miss Meetei Chanu or Miss Meitei Chanu is an annual beauty pageant that is run by the Manipur based Lainingthou Sanamahi Sana Pung (LSSP). The event aims to make Meitei women understand the culture and tradition of Sanamahism (Meitei religion). It is one of the most watched beauty pageants in North East India. It co-exists with Miss Manipur, Femina Miss India Manipur and Miss Kangleipak.

 Background 
The Miss Meetei Chanu beauty pageant was first held in 2016. It was organised by the Lainingthou Sanamahi Sana Pung (LSSP), a socio-religious group, based in Manipur, India. The event is organised under the guidance of Leishemba Sanajaoba, His Highness, the present king of Manipur. Besides being a beauty pageant, the event also includes cultural activities like cooking dishes, cleaning courtyards and serving elders in traditional ways.

"Our objective of the event is to preserve the age of traditions of the Meiteis and to make the younger generations aware of the culture and way of life so the earth preserved. 
The pageant is not to select only the beautiful girl, but to make them aware of the Meitei way of life, culture, tradition and religion and select the one who can present best the Meitei tradition as Meitei Chanu."
_ Tampak Puba, general publicity secretary of the organising committee said.

Many elements of the Meitei culture are included in the contest. The contestants are to prepare indigenous dishes in traditional way. The cooking utensils are earthen ones, following the old practices. Other than this, cleaning of courtyard and service to the old people are also the parts of the event.

"Our aim is to make Meitei girls and married women aware of our forefathers' religious way, culture and tradition."
_ Ishorjit Chandam, an organizer of the event said.

 Special Awards 
Besides the overall top 3 awards, the following are the special awards. 
Special awardsLatin-Roman transliterationsEnglish translation/equivalent termsꯅꯤꯡꯊꯤꯕꯤ ꯁꯝꯂꯥꯡNingthibi SamlangBest hairꯅꯤꯡꯊꯤꯕꯤ ꯃꯤꯅꯣꯛNingthibi MinokBest smileꯅꯤꯡꯊꯤꯕꯤ ꯈꯣꯡꯊꯥꯡNingthibi KhongthangBest walkꯊꯧꯒꯟꯂꯣꯟ ꯆꯪꯈꯣꯟꯕꯤ/ꯊꯧꯒꯜ ꯂꯣꯟꯆꯠ ꯐꯖꯕꯤThouganlon Changkhonbi/Thougal Lonchat PhajabiBest mannersꯃꯃꯤꯗ ꯃꯁꯛ ꯐꯖꯕꯤMami Da Masak PhajabiMiss Photogenicꯍꯦꯟꯗꯣꯛꯅ ꯃꯇꯤꯛ ꯃꯌꯥꯢ ꯆꯦꯟꯕꯤHendokna Matik Mayai ChenbiMiss Outstanding Quality

 Challenge Events 
The contest has both non-costume based as well as costume based events. Generally, the costume based events are performed later. 
 Non-costume based events 

The non-costume based events include the following rounds. 
Event namesLatin-Roman transliterationsEnglish translation/descriptionꯅꯥꯆꯣꯝ ꯁꯦꯝꯕNachom Semba making flower bunch to wearꯆꯦꯡ ꯈꯩꯕ-ꯈꯞꯄCheng Kheiba-Khappa husking paddyꯁꯨꯃꯥꯡ ꯋꯥꯢ ꯇꯩꯕ Shumang Wai Teiba courtyard mop contestꯐꯨ ꯍꯧꯕ/ꯃꯊꯦꯜ ꯂꯨꯀꯣꯢ ꯊꯣꯡꯕPhu Houba/Mathel Lukoi Thongbatraditional kitchen serviceꯂꯥꯢꯐꯝꯗ ꯎ ꯊꯥꯕLaiphamda oo thaabavisiting Meetei places of worship for tree plantation

 Costume-based events 
The costume based events include three rounds.
 Event names Latin-Roman transliterations English translation/equivalent terms Description ꯑꯌꯨꯛꯀꯤ ꯌꯦꯟꯗꯥ Ayukki Yenda Introductory Round Contest for daily costumes of Meetei women worn at the dawn during the morning activities like praying to the God. ꯂꯥꯢ ꯍꯔꯥꯎꯕ Lai Haraoba traditional round Lai Haraoba traditional round Contest for costumes of Meetei women worn during Lai Haraoba. ꯑꯀꯦ-ꯑꯃꯧ Ake-Amou round Last round Contest for costumes of Meetei women worn during socio-cultural ceremonies.

 Recent Titleholders 

 Edition Meitei year (as bestowed during the contest)  Titleholders Venue of Competition Number of Entrants 2019 3417 Leiphrakpam Suchona Chanu Imphal 30 2018 3416 Oinam Merina Chanu Imphal  2017 3415 Laishram Shilla Chanu Imphal 35

 References 

 Other websites 

 Meetei_Chanu_pothashang.in
 Meetei_Chanu_e-pao.net
 Meetei_Chanu_enaat.net 

Category:Meitei festivals
Category:Beauty pageants