Kirtaniya Meitei

Kirtaniya Meitei or Kirtaniya Manipuri or KM or Simply Kirtaniya are the sub-group of Meitei or Manipuri Community in North-east India and Mainly concentration in the Indian state of Tripura. Kirtaniya Meitei has two sub-group 1. Meitei Meekhul and 2. Meitei Kitna.

History

Kirtaniya Meiteis are the sub-group or sub-branch of Meitei people. In the present time there is no proper written history of the origin of Kirtaniya Meitei. In some books mentioned about the KMs history shortly. The Oral history only present generation to generation wise from the Ancient Manipur time.

Origin Theory

According to Kirtaniya Meitei communities belong that there are originated by mixing of two communities that are Bengali people and Meitei people. When during Hinduism entered Manipur (princely state) by the Bengali Priest Shantidas Adhikari or also called Santi Das Gosai in the King Pamheiba or Gharib Niwaz (Manipur). Their ancestors belongs to Followers of Santi Das Gosai who came to Manipur for spreading Hinduism in the 18th century or 1716 from Sylhet of Undivided Bengal ( now part of Bangladesh).

Existence

When Santidas Gosai followers settled in Manipur, King Pamheiba gave them some land for settlement. They are married with the local women Meitei people. They adopted the Meitei culture with Vaishnavism significance. The next generation of this followers know as Kirtaniya Meitei.

Language

Kirtaniya Meitei speake the Tibeto-Burman language family Meitei language, KMs are use dialect of Meitei language which is found in Tripura only and few people also settled Barak Valley of Assam and Imphal Valley of Manipur.

Religion

Kirtaniya Meitei are follow Meitei Vaishnavism with folk religion Sanamahism rituals. Basically Kirtaniya Meiteis are Hinduism but they also practice the folk religion which is known as Sanamahism. In present time few Kirtaniya Meiteis follow Christianity, they are converted from Hinduism to Christianity.

Settlement

In 21st century Kirtaniya Meiteis are mainly found in Tripura. During Chahi-Taret Khundakpa or Manipur-Burma War time, Tripura's Many Kings married Many Meitei Princess when princess came in Tripura along with some Meiteis, Kirtaniya Meiteis settle down in Tripura, some are came from during Indo-Pakistani war of 1947–1948 time.

Kirtaniya Meiteis are mainly found only Two districts of Tripura, West Tripura district and Khowai district. Khowai Gournagar is the mostly dominated by Kirtaniya Meitei people.

In west Tripura district where Kirtaniya Meiteis are found in the villages are

Bamutia RD Block of Barajosh ( Bordush called by Kirtaniya Meitei), Bhugjur( Bugjuri), Dakshin Bhugjur ( Kowli), Lamabari(Pakha), Guchamura(Panchai), Taltala- Sonatala( Khunaou), Rangutia(Rangamati).

Mohanpur RD Block of Phatikcherra(Patika), Jamirghat(Unung).

In Agartala Municipal Corporation are found in Barjala (Jalan Khul), Abhoynagar, Radhanagar few family live in Dhaleswar area.

In Khowai District where Kirtaniya Meiteis are found in the Gournagar, Paharmura(Bosmura), Khowai Town area only.