From the archive record
Items used in worship of indigenous deities of Manipur being sold in the Khwairamband Bazaar, the only market market in the world run only by women. The people of Manipur follow several faiths and religions which can be traced to its history. Sanamahism is an ancient indigenous religion. The Sanamahi worship is concentrated around the Sun God/Sanamahi. The early Manipuri worshipped a Supreme deity, Lainingthou Soralel and followed their ancestors. Their ancestor worship and animism was based on Umang Lai -- that is, ethnic governing deities worshipped in sacred groves. Some of the gods (Lais) whom Manipuri worship are Atiya Sidaba, Pakhangba, Sanamahi, Leimaren, Oknarel, Panganba, Thangjing, Marjing, Wangbaren, and Koubru. The religious life of the people, even when they adopted non-mainst