ISSN : 2663-2187

ETHNO-BOTANICAL PLANTS IN THE RELIGIO-CULTURAL REALM OF THE MEITEIS IN MANIPUR

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Huidrom Chitra Devi Akoijam Nirmala Devi Thiyam Rabikanta Singh
ยป doi: 10.33472/AFJBS.6.5.2024.2909-2916

Abstract

Within the ambit of religio-cultural context, the ethno-botanical plants play a significant role that ramifies to man-nature-spirit interrelationship. There are sacred plants which the indigenous people value much and take care to maintain sustainably while the biologists attempt to analyse the specific characters of the plants. The present interdisciplinary study of plant and ethnic group attempts to document the ethno-botanical plants used in the religious domain of the Meiteis, an autochthone of Manipur in India. An intensive survey of these plants which are domesticated as well as grown in religious sites along with interview from key informants including Maiba (medico-religious man), Bamon (Hindu priests), Arangfam (attendants of rites and rituals), and Piba (head of lineage) and scheduled methods of data collection were used. The love and affection of the people to the world of plant is found very much influenced with the fear and loyalty to spirits and gods who dwell in plant ecology. In addition, specific plants corresponds to the unique identity of the people concerned.

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