Thangal people

The Thangal people are a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group inhabiting Senapati district in the Northeast Indian state of Manipur. They speak the Thangal language, which resembles Maram, and Rongmei.^[1] They use Meitei language as their second language (L2) according to the Ethnologue.^[2]

A Thangal tribal old woman of Thangal Surung village, presenting gifts, including Yongchaak (Meitei for 'Parkia speciosa'), to Khaidem Pramodini, a Meitei author from Imphal

Presently there are 13 Thangal villages. They are found in eleven hill villages of the Senapati District: Angkailongdi, Katomei Makeng, Makeng Cheijinba, Ngaihang, Mapao Thangal, Mayangkhang, Ningthoupham, Thangal Surung, Tumnoupokpi, Yaikongpao and Takaimei.^[3]

Society

Traditionally, the Thangals are both horticulturalists and agriculturalists.^[3]

13 August is celebrated as Thangal Day. This is to commemorate the martyrdom of Lungthoubu Thangal,^[4] better known as Thangal Menjor, or popularly as Thangal general in the year 1891.