Meitei people in the United States

Meitei people (), also known as the Manipuris (), originally from northeastern India (mostly from Manipur) and parts of Bangladesh with Meitei populations, are a small but emerging community in the United States. As part of the broader South Asian diaspora, the Meiteis have gradually settled in various parts of the country, often driven by opportunities for education, work, and a better quality of life. While the community is still relatively small, they have begun to establish themselves within the multicultural fabric of American society. Through their migration, the Meitei people maintain a sense of connection to their cultural traditions, while also adapting to their new environment, contributing to the diverse and dynamic nature of life in the United States.

### Waves of Migration 
The migration occurred in successive phases:

* **First Wave (1960s–1970s)**: This phase consisted of a small number of students and professionals who moved to the United States for education and employment. Some returned to Manipur after completing their studies.

## Cuisines 
Meitei cuisines in the United States refer to ethnic food and beverages prepared by members of the Meitei diaspora. Commonly included dishes are Ooti, Eromba (), Hawaichar, Nga-thongba, traditional cheese, and Hawai. These cuisines are typically maintained within domestic spaces and community gatherings, reflecting the culinary practices of the Meitei community.

Soibum (bamboo shoots), ngari (fermented fish) and hawaizar (fermented soya beans), are also notably used.

Leima Jagoi () and Thabal Chongba 
() are traditional Meitei dance forms, notably performed by members of the American Meitei community during their meetings and summits. The performances serve as cultural expressions and are often included as parts of community gatherings and events.
L. Somi Roy introduced the event by discussing the digitizeMANIPUR! project, which he initiated with support from the Richard Gilder Foundation and Educate LLC.

In August 2023, the North American Manipur Association (NAMA) raised INR 6,00,000 through a fundraising campaign for relief efforts in Manipur.
The funds were donated to the Manipur Governor’s relief fund to support displaced individuals in relief camps across the state. NAMA requested that the funds be used, either in whole or in part, to provide medical and sanitary assistance to women and children in the camps. He departed for work early that morning, following his usual routine. The last known communication with him was a phone call from his wife, Nancy. In the aftermath of the attacks, once phone lines were partially restored, calls to his mobile phone would ring but went unanswered.
Concern grew among his immediate family—his wife Nancy, son Shanti, and relatives in Imphal—as well as within the broader Manipuri community in the United States and elsewhere.

## Associations and organizations 
The *North American Manipuri Association (NAMA)* was founded in 1991 in Brooklyn, New York, with no political ties or agenda.

The *North American Bangladesh Manipuri Society* is a civil society organization with hundreds of Meitei members, mostly based in New York. The organization has participated in demonstrations urging the government to address "illegal immigration" in Manipur and to safeguard the state's territorial integrity.

## Related pages 
* Meitei people in Bangladesh
* Meitei people in Canada
* Meitei people in Myanmar
* Meitei people in Assam
* Meitei people in Meghalaya
* Meitei people in Nagaland
* Meitei people in Tripura

## References