The people of Manipur have a distinctive culture and tradition of which they are very proud. Manipuri's don’t have many festivals but they do take great interest and show immense enthusiasm while celebrating a few of their local festivals.

The festival of Yaosang in celebrated during the months of February, March on a full moon night. During this festival the boys and girls come together and dance on the Thobal Chongba. They also sing in a circle in the night. This festival in quite popular among the youth and is what Durga Puja is to Bengal Diwali to North India and Bihu to Assam.

This festival is celebrated in the month of September and in very popular among the people. This actually has little religious significance since it does not involve any singing, dancing or praying but boat racing. In this a large number of rowers sit in a narrow boat and race along a 16-m wide moat. Installment of the idol of Lord Vishnu marks the beginning of the race.

This is popular social festival of the Meities, which is celebrated in the month of November, on the second day of the new moon. During this festival the married Meitei woman come to their parental house to take part in the festivals which also includes a lavish feast. Thus this remarkable festival represents a female reunion.

Christmas: Christmas in an important festival of the Christians our entire world and in Manipur too it is celebrated with great pomp and show. The Manipuri Christians observe this festival for two days i.e., December 24^th and 25 th During this time, the festivities are marked by prayers, singing of hymns, reading of gospels, dancing, merry making, sports and other events. At times, the celebrations may even continue till the 1^st of January which is the New Years day.

Ramzan Id: Ramzan Id is one of the well known festivals of the Manipuri Muslims which is celebrated here with the same religious fervour as in any other part of the world. During the holy month of Ramzan , the Muslims refrain from food, drink and smoking from predawn till sunset. The entire month is spent in prayers. Ramzan is the ninth month of the Hijri year, after which comes the Id-Ul Fitre. The fast kept by the Muslims during Ramzan is finaly broken on this day. Prayers are offered in the mosques, greetings are exchanged and an exotic feast in organized.

This is a popular festival of the Kabui Nagas, Celebrated during the months of December-January. Continuing for fine days the festival commences with an omen taking ceremony on the first day and the festivities and merry-making carry on for the rest of the days.

Kang: Kang is the Rath Yatra of Manipur, which is quite popular among the Manipuri Hindus starting in the month of July this festival is celebrated for ten days. Lord Jagannath is taken out in a procession in a car known as kang from which this yatra gets its name. Many enthusiastic pilgrims pull this car.

Chumpha

This is a festival of the Tangkhul Nagas, celebrated in the month of December for seven days. This festival is preceded by the harvesting season.

Women play an important role in this festival. The last three days of the festival witness lot of social gatherings where men and women sing dance and enjoy. At the end of the festival a procession is taken out in the village.

Kut is an annual festival observed on the Ist of November with great enthusiasm. The different tribes of Kuki-Chin-Mizo are involved in the celebration of this autum in festival, which is also known as Chavang-Kut or Khodou at different places.

This festival represents a thanks-giving occasion when the villagers thank the Gods for a beautiful stock of food after a year of hard labour.