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Miss Meetei Chanu
	"Meetei Chanu"
Formation	2016
Type	Beauty pageant
Headquarters	Imphal
Location	Manipur;
Official language	Meitei (Manipuri)
Key people	Leishemba Sanajaoba, Ishorjit Chandam (organizers), Tampak Puba (publicity secretary)
Parent organization	Lainingthou Sanamahi Sana Pung (LSSP)

Miss Meetei Chanu or Miss Meitei Chanu is an annual beauty pageant that is run by the Manipur based Lainingthou Sanamahi Sana Pung (LSSP). The event aims to make Meitei women understand the culture and tradition of Sanamahism (Meitei religion). It is one of the most watched beauty pageants in North East India. It co-exists with Miss Manipur, Femina Miss India Manipur and Miss Kangleipak.^[1]^[2]^[3]

Background

The Miss Meetei Chanu beauty pageant was first held in 2016. It was organised by the Lainingthou Sanamahi Sana Pung (LSSP), a socio-religious group, based in Manipur, India. The event is organised under the guidance of Leishemba Sanajaoba, His Highness, the present king of Manipur. Besides being a beauty pageant, the event also includes cultural activities like cooking dishes, cleaning courtyards and serving elders in traditional ways.^[1]

"Our objective of the event is to preserve the age of traditions of the Meiteis and to make the younger generations aware of the culture and way of life so the earth preserved. The pageant is not to select only the beautiful girl, but to make them aware of the Meitei way of life, culture, tradition and religion and select the one who can present best the Meitei tradition as Meitei Chanu."

_ Tampak Puba, general publicity secretary of the organising committee said.^[1]

Many elements of the Meitei culture are included in the contest. The contestants are to prepare indigenous dishes in traditional way. The cooking utensils are earthen ones, following the old practices. Other than this, cleaning of courtyard and service to the old people are also the parts of the event.^[1]

"Our aim is to make Meitei girls and married women aware of our forefathers' religious way, culture and tradition."

_ Ishorjit Chandam, an organizer of the event said.^[1]

Special Awards

Besides the overall top 3 awards, the following are the special awards.

Special awards	Latin-Roman transliterations	English translation/equivalent terms
ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯤꯕꯤ ꯁꯝꯂꯥꯡ	Ningthibi Samlang	Best hair^[4]
ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯤꯕꯤ ꯃꯤꯅꯣꯛ	Ningthibi Minok	Best smile^[4]
ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯤꯕꯤ ꯈꯣꯡꯊꯥꯡ	Ningthibi Khongthang	Best walk^[4]
ꯊꯧꯒꯟꯂꯣꯟ ꯆꯪꯈꯣꯟꯕꯤ/ꯊꯧꯒꯜ ꯂꯣꯟꯆꯠ ꯐꯖꯕꯤ	Thouganlon Changkhonbi/Thougal Lonchat Phajabi	Best manners^[2]^[4]
ꯃꯃꯤꯗ ꯃꯁꯛ ꯐꯖꯕꯤ	Mami Da Masak Phajabi	Miss Photogenic^[2]
ꯍꯦꯟꯗꯣꯛꯅ ꯃꯇꯤꯛ ꯃꯌꯥꯢ ꯆꯦꯟꯕꯤ	Hendokna Matik Mayai Chenbi	Miss Outstanding Quality^[2]

Challenge Events

The contest has both non-costume based as well as costume based events. Generally, the costume based events are performed later.

Non-costume based events

The non-costume based events include the following rounds.

Event names	Latin-Roman transliterations	English translation/description
ꯅꯥꯆꯣꯝ ꯁꯦꯝꯕ	Nachom Semba	making flower bunch to wear^[2]
ꯆꯦꯡ ꯈꯩꯕ-ꯈꯞꯄ	Cheng Kheiba-Khappa	husking paddy^[2]
ꯁꯨꯃꯥꯡ ꯋꯥꯢ ꯇꯩꯕ	Shumang Wai Teiba	courtyard mop contest^[3]^[5]
ꯐꯨ ꯍꯧꯕ/ꯃꯊꯦꯜ ꯂꯨꯀꯣꯢ ꯊꯣꯡꯕ	Phu Houba/Mathel Lukoi Thongba	traditional kitchen service^[2]^[3]^[6]^[7]
ꯂꯥꯢꯐꯝꯗ ꯎ ꯊꯥꯕ	Laiphamda oo thaaba	visiting Meetei places of worship for tree plantation^[2]

Costume-based events

The costume based events include three rounds.

Event names	Latin-Roman transliterations	English translation/equivalent terms	Description
ꯑꯌꯨꯛꯀꯤ ꯌꯦꯟꯗꯥ	Ayukki Yenda	Introductory Round	Contest for daily costumes of Meetei women worn at the dawn during the morning activities like praying to the God.^[4]
ꯂꯥꯢ ꯍꯔꯥꯎꯕ	Lai Haraoba traditional round	Lai Haraoba traditional round	Contest for costumes of Meetei women worn during Lai Haraoba.^[4]
ꯑꯀꯦ-ꯑꯃꯧ	Ake-Amou round	Last round	Contest for costumes of Meetei women worn during socio-cultural ceremonies.^[4]

Recent Titleholders

Edition	Meitei year (as bestowed during the contest)	Titleholders	Venue of Competition	Number of Entrants
2019	3417	Leiphrakpam Suchona Chanu	Imphal	30^[8]^[9]^[10]^[11]^[12]^[13]
2018	3416	Oinam Merina Chanu	Imphal	^[2]
2017	3415	Laishram Shilla Chanu	Imphal	35^[4]^[14]^[15]^[16]