The Meitei calendar or "Manipuri calendar" or "Kangleipak calendar" or "Maliyapham Palcha Kumshing calendar" is a traditional lunar calendar invented and used by the Meitei ethnicity for religious and agricultural purposes. It was developed by Emperor Maliyapham Palcha (1359 BC-1329 BC) in (Palcha era) in Ancient Manipur (Antique Kangleipak).[1] Similar to the Gregorian calendar (Roman calendar), it also has twelve months in a year, four weeks in a month and seven days in a week.[2]
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 |
Important days fall in different times of a year according to Meitei calendar. Some are as follows in alphabetical order:
The governing body of the traditional Meitei calendar is the "Kangleipak Calendar Board", which annually organizes meetings at which the annual calendar is published officially.[3] The SEACO (South East Asian Cultural Organization) also organizes annual conference to preserve the cultural and traditional calendar of Ancient Manipur.[4]