The Rongmei are among the earliest inhabitant of Manipur. The rich variety of their clothing reflects their rich cultural heritage. The Rongmei dance with their colourful costumes is a well known tribal form of tribal performing art. The Rongmei dress is categorised on the basis of gender (Male and Female) and age gradation ; child, youth, married and elder woman. For instance the following description of the dress is given in brief:
Male dress Name of cloth
Age grade:
1. Walking child - Sineiphei
2. Cattle herding boy - Themphei
3. Youth - Mareipan
4. Senior married youth - Pheingao
5. Elder Masin -pheipong
6. Old men - Kharam phei
( Mareiphai and Pheingao are the most common male cloth)
Female dress Name of cloth
1. Walking girl child - Lengli pheisho
2. Adolescent - Pheishoi and Nai
3. Married women - Pheishoi, nai of different patterns
4. Elder women - Pheishoi with the pattern of bunting chapi etc.
The dance costume is colourful, both for male and female. The female dress is called Langhu Pheishoi.
Male dress Name of cloth
Age grade:
1. Walking child - Sineiphei
2. Cattle herding boy - Themphei
3. Youth - Mareipan
4. Senior married youth - Pheingao
5. Elder Masin -pheipong
6. Old men - Kharam phei
( Mareiphai and Pheingao are the most common male cloth)
Female dress Name of cloth
1. Walking girl child - Lengli pheisho
2. Adolescent - Pheishoi and Nai
3. Married women - Pheishoi, nai of different patterns
4. Elder women - Pheishoi with the pattern of bunting chapi etc.
The dance costume is colourful, both for male and female. The female dress is called Langhu Pheishoi.
