The Meitei calendar (Meitei: ꯃꯩꯇꯩ ꯊꯥꯄꯥꯂꯣꯟ) or Manipuri calendar (Meitei: ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯤ ꯊꯥꯄꯥꯂꯣꯟ) or Kangleipak calendar (Meitei: ꯀꯪꯂꯩꯄꯥꯛ ꯊꯥꯄꯥꯂꯣꯟ) or Maliyapham Palcha Kumshing (Meitei: ꯃꯂꯤꯌꯥꯐꯝ ꯄꯥꯜꯆꯥ ꯀꯨꯝꯁꯤꯡ) is a lunar calendar used by the Meitei people of Manipur for their religious as well as agricultural activities. The concept of era in Meitei was first developed by Emperor Maliyafam Palcha, in the year 1397 BC (Palcha Era)[1] in the kingdom of Kangleipak in present-day Manipur. It is believed that the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th and 7th months of the Meitei calendar were named after Poireiten's agricultural activities. Similar to Georgian calendar, the Meitei calendar also consists of twelve months and seven days but the starting date with the English calendar is different.[2][3] The new year day known as, Sajibu Cheiraoba is celebrated on the 1st day of the month Sajibu.
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 |
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 |
Many social associations and organizations are preserving and promoting the traditional calendar of the Meitei people of Manipur.[4][5]