Title: The Youpal Ceremony and the Role of the Meipi: Exploring Marriage Ritual
Traditions Among the Bishnupriya Manipuri Community
Authors:
Nilen Sinha
Journal:
International Journal of Social Science and Economic Research (IJSSER)
ISSN: 2455-8834
Volume:
8
Issue:
12
Publication Date:
December 2023
DOI:10.46609/IJSSER.2023.v08i12.026
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Nilen Sinha
Assistant Professor, Silchar College, Silchar
MLA 8 Sinha, Nilen. "The Youpal Ceremony and the Role of the Meipi: Exploring Marriage Ritual Traditions Among the Bishnupriya Manipuri Community." Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research, vol. 8, no. 12, Dec. 2023, pp. 4077-4085, doi.org/10.46609/IJSSER.2023.v08i12.026. Accessed Dec. 2023.
APA 6 Sinha, N. (2023, December). The Youpal Ceremony and the Role of the Meipi: Exploring Marriage Ritual Traditions Among the Bishnupriya Manipuri Community. Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research, 8(12), 4077-4085. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.46609/IJSSER.2023.v08i12.026
Chicago Sinha, Nilen. "The Youpal Ceremony and the Role of the Meipi: Exploring Marriage Ritual Traditions Among the Bishnupriya Manipuri Community." Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research 8, no. 12 (December 2023), 4077-4085. Accessed December, 2023. https://doi.org/10.46609/IJSSER.2023.v08i12.026.
References
[1] . Sinha, H. (2015). The Bishnupriya Manipuris in North East India: Society, economy and development. Mittal Publications. ISBN 81-8324-525-0
[2] . Sinha, J. K. (2014). Amar Sanskriti: A book of Bishnupriya Manipuri culture. D. Choudhury Printers. (Published by Srimati Chandra Sinha, Bikrampur Road, Silchar, Assam).
[3] . Sinha, P. K. (2020). Bishnupriya Manipuris on socio-political crossroads. Research and Publication Cell, Radhamadhab College, Silchar. ISBN 978-81921498-2-0
[4] . Davis, K. (1939). Human Society. Macmillan.
[5] . Sharma, P., & Singh, R. (2022). Changing patterns of marriage rituals in India: Negotiating tradition and modernity. Asian Journal of Social Science and Humanities, 11(3), 45–58.
[6] . Kumar, S. (2021). Marriage as sacrament: The continuity of Hindu ideals in contemporary Indian society. Journal of Social and Cultural Research, 9(2), 60–72.
[7] . Singha, M. (2019). Cultural practices and identity among Bishnupriya Manipuris of Assam. Journal of North East Studies, 7(2), 45–56.
[8] . Roy, S. (2020). Women and folk religion in Northeast India. Indian Anthropologist, 50(1), 87–99.
[9] . Sarma, B. (2018). Folk rituals and social resilience: Case studies from Assam. Cultural Heritage Review, 9(2), 67–82.
[10] . Bhattacharjee, P. (2021). Ritual continuity and change among the ethnic communities of Northeast India. Journal of Indian Folklore Studies, 12(1), 25–39.
ABSTRACT:
Marriage rituals among the Bishnupriya Manipuri community reflect a distinctive blend of
Vaishnavite beliefs, indigenous traditions, and folk spirituality. This study examines the Youpal
ceremony and the role of the Meipi, an elderly woman who performs and guides important ritual
practices. The study focuses on the religious, cultural, symbolic, and gendered dimensions of the
ceremony and its significance in preserving traditional knowledge. Using a qualitative and
descriptive approach, the study draws on primary data collected through interviews with
selected community members in Masughat village, Cachar, Assam, along with direct observation
and secondary sources. The study highlights how the Youpal ceremony contributes to the
sanctification of marriage and the continuity of community traditions, while the Meipi plays an
important role as a ritual practitioner and transmitter of cultural knowledge. The study also
addresses the limited academic documentation of Bishnupriya Manipuri marriage rituals and
contributes to the documentation and understanding of their cultural heritage.
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