NydiaChiodo9 at 09:39, 15 March 2026

2026-03-15T09:39:35Z

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article

2023-08-30T19:26:04Z

Created a new article

New page

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2020}}
{{redirect|Mothers' Market|the grocery store chain in Southern California|Mother%27s Market %26 Kitchen}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Ima Keithel ({{lang-en|Mothers' Market}})
| other_name =
| nickname = '''Nupi Keithel''' ({{lang-en|Women's Market}}) '''Khwairamband Keithel''' ({{lang-en|Khwairamband Market}}) 
| settlement_type =
| image_skyline = {{Photomontage
| photo1a = Ima Market, imphal.jpeg
| photo1b = Imphal, Manipur (84).jpeg
| photo2a = Imphal, Manipur (62).jpeg
| photo3a = Manipuri woman selling glutinous rice at Eema Bazaar, Imphal, Manipur.JPG
| photo3b = Ema Market.jpg
| size = 280
| spacing = 1
| position = centre
| border = 0
| color = white
}}
| image_caption = Different scenes of the Ima Keithel (Mothers' Market) of [[Imphal]]
| image_alt =
| pushpin_map = India Manipur#India
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Manipur, India
| coordinates = {{coord|24.808|93.935|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{IND}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Manipur]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of Manipur|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Imphal West]]
| subdivision_type3 =
| subdivision_name3 = Municipal Administration, Housing and Urban Development (MAHUD)
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for = [[Meitei people|Meitei women]]
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Colloquial
| demographics1_info1 = [[Meitei language|Meitei]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = [http://www.citypincode.in/MANIPUR/IMPHAL_WEST/D.M_COLLEGE_PINCODE 795001]
| registration_plate =
| website =
| footnotes =
| blank3_name_sec1 = [[Cooperative|Management]]
| blank3_info_sec1 = Ima Keithel Union
| official_name =
}}
The '''Ima Market''' ({{lang-mni|Ima Keithel}}; literally, Mothers' Market), also known as the '''Nupi Keithel''' ({{lang-en|Women's Market}}) or the '''Khwairamband Keithel''' ({{lang-en|Khwairamband Market}}<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_ypgDwAAQBAJ&q=ima+keithel+markets+khwairamband+three&pg=PA248|title=Development and Disaster Management: A Study of the Northeastern States of India|last1=Singh|first1=Amita|last2=Punia|first2=Milap|last3=Haran|first3=Nivedita P.|last4=Singh|first4=Thiyam Bharat|date=2018-06-15|isbn=978-981-10-8485-0|language=en}}</ref>), is a women only market in the middle of [[Imphal]] in the Indian state of [[Manipur]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=India's Mother's Market run by women|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-32793952|access-date=2021-09-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-01-04|title=Manipur's historic women's only market damaged in earthquake|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/manipur-s-historic-women-s-only-market-damaged-earthquake-37306|access-date=2021-09-24|website=The News Minute|language=en}}</ref> It is the only market in the world run entirely by women.<ref>–{{Cite news |title=India's Mother's Market run by women |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-32793952}} –{{Cite book |last=Gupta |first=Om |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eENU_a8c79MC&q=ima+keithel+market+khwairamband+only+women+world&pg=PA974 |title=Encyclopaedia of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh |date=2006 |isbn=978-81-8205-389-2 |language=en |quote='Ima Keithel' at Khwairamband Bazar is the only market in the world where, as the name suggests, all the stalls are run by women.}} –{{Cite book |last=Shivhare |first=Vishal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vjzcDAAAQBAJ&q=ima+market+nupi+keithel+only+women+world&pg=PT37 |title=Vyapar Shastra |date=2016-08-17 |isbn=978-81-8495-898-0 |language=en |quote=Ima Keithel Market, Imphal, Manipur Ima market or Nupi Keithel, in Imphal, Manipur, is the only all-women marketplace in the world.}} –{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Dr Th Suresh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kbu_AwAAQBAJ&q=ima+keithel+market+only+women+world&pg=PA4 |title=The Endless Kabaw Valley: British Created Visious Cycle of Manipur, Burma and India |date=2014-06-02 |isbn=978-93-84318-00-0 |language=en |quote=The world famous Ima Keithel, the only unique women ́s market in the world, situated at the heart of the capital : It was established in 1636 AD by king Khagemba as a part of his ...}} –{{Cite web |date=2016-01-04 |title=Manipur's historic women's only market damaged in earthquake |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/manipur-s-historic-women-s-only-market-damaged-earthquake-37306 |website=The News Minute |language=en}} –{{Cite book |last=Sahu (IAS) |first=Barun Kumar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t8W-DwAAQBAJ&q=ima+keithel+market+women+exclusively&pg=PP123 |title=AN INQUIRY INTO VIGILANCE AND CORRUPTION |date=2020-01-01 |isbn=978-93-5322-856-9 |language=en}} –{{Cite book |last1=Patra |first1=Jayanta Kumar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j1mnDwAAQBAJ&q=ima+keithel+market+exclusively+run+women&pg=PT108 |title=Ethnopharmacology and Biodiversity of Medicinal Plants |last2=Das |first2=Gitishree |last3=Kumar |first3=Sanjeet |last4=Thatoi |first4=Hrudayanath |date=2019-08-05 |isbn=978-0-429-67537-9 |language=en |quote=The Ima market or Ima keithel is a unique marketplace exclusively run by women.}} –{{Cite book |last=Deshpande |first=Abhijeet |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lblDDwAAQBAJ&q=ima+keithel++all+vendors+women&pg=PT100 |title=Backpacking North East India: A Curious Journey |date=2017-12-19 |isbn=978-1-946556-80-6 |language=en}}</ref> Inside the market, male shopkeepers and vendors are not allowed to sell anything.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mdmYDwAAQBAJ&q=ima+keithel+mother%27s+market+male+members+punishable+offence&pg=PT92|title=Early Sunrise, Early Sunset: Tales of a Solo Woman Traveler Across North East and East India|last=Rastogi|first=Priyanka|date=2019-05-13|publisher=Partridge Publishing|isbn=978-1-5437-0523-2|language=en}}</ref> The [[Government of Manipur]] has announced that the male shopkeepers and vendors will be punished if their shops and vendors are found inside the market.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mdmYDwAAQBAJ&q=ima+keithel+mother%27s+market+male+members+punishable+offence&pg=PT92|title=Early Sunrise, Early Sunset: Tales of a Solo Woman Traveler Across North East and East India|last=Rastogi|first=Priyanka|date=2019-05-13|publisher=Partridge Publishing|isbn=978-1-5437-0523-2|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-32793952/mother-s-market-the-indian-bazaar-run-entirely-by-women|title=India's Mother's Market run by women|last=|first=|date=19 May 2015|website=[[BBC News]]|language=|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180121071432/http://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-32793952/mother-s-market-the-indian-bazaar-run-entirely-by-women|archive-date=21 January 2018|access-date=}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/manipur%E2%80%99s-historic-women%E2%80%99s-only-market-damaged-earthquake-37306|title=Manipur's historic women's only market damaged in earthquake|last=|first=|date=4 January 2016|website=[[The News Minute]]|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref> It is a commercial center and a popular tourist attraction in the state of [[Manipur]].<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nativeplanet.com/travel-guide/ima-keithal-women-s-market-in-imphal-001889.html|title=Ima Keithal : World's Only Women's Market|last=Vinayak|first=Akshatha|date=14 May 2018|website=Native Planet|language=|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160721033629/http://www.nativeplanet.com/travel-guide/ima-keithal-women-s-market-in-imphal-001889.html|archive-date=21 July 2016|access-date=}}</ref> It was established in the 16th century and hosts around 5,000–6,000 women [[vendor]]s who sell a variety of products.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.incredibleindia.org/content/incredible-india-v2/en/destinations/imphal/ima-keithel--ima-market--khwairamband-bazar.html|title=Incredible India {{!}} Ima Keithel/ Ima Market/ Khwairamband Bazar|last=|first=|date=|website=[[Incredible India]]|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-02-02}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=http://scroll.in/article/801410/the-earthquake-has-damaged-a-nerve-centre-of-life-in-manipur-the-ima-keithel-or-mothers-market|title=The earthquake has damaged a nerve centre of life in Manipur: the Ima Keithel or Mother's Market|last=Chakravarty|first=Ipsita|date=6 January 2016|website=[[Scroll.in]]|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref> Products such as vegetables, fruits, textiles, toys, fish, spices and utensils are available in the market.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://theculturetrip.com/asia/india/articles/ima-keithel-asias-largest-all-womens-market/|title=Ima Keithel: Asia's Largest All Women's Market|last=Binayak|first=Poonam|date=5 January 2018|website=Culture Trip|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref> It is the largest all–women market in Asia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nenow.in/north-east-news/manipur/3-storey-market-building-coming-up-at-pureiromba-keithel-in-imphal.html|title=3-storey market building coming up at Pureiromba Keithel in Imphal|last=|first=|date=30 December 2019|website=Northeast Now|language=|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref>

== History ==
{{See|History of Manipur|Manipur Kingdom}}
The market was established in the 16th century following the imposition of the labour system, ''lallup-kaba'' in 1533 CE. The ''lallup-kaba'' was a [[forced labour]] system in [[Manipur Kingdom]] which required male members of the [[Meitei people|Meitei ethnicity]] to work in distant lands or to serve in the army. As a consequence of the system, women had to support their households by cultivating their fields or weaving textiles and then selling the products on improvised markets. The improvised markets led to the formation of the organized Ima Keithel.<ref name=":0" /> The Ima Keithel was the primary permanent market in [[Manipur]] until the 20th century.

In 1891, the [[British Raj|British colonial administration]] attempted to impose economic and political reform in [[Manipur Kingdom]] which disrupted the functioning of the market.<ref name=":0" /> The reforms involved large scale seizure and export of food corps from Manipur without consideration for local requirements which caused starvation at times of [[Mautam]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=education.Science_and_Technology.Mautam_phenomenon_in_NE_States|title=Mautam phenomenon in NE States|last=|first=|date=|website=e-pao.net|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810025254/http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=education.Science_and_Technology.Mautam_phenomenon_in_NE_States|archive-date=10 August 2019|access-date=}}</ref> It led to agitations by the women of the Ima Keithel and in response, the British attempted to sell off the assets and properties of Ima Keithel to foreigners and external buyers. This among other causes resulted in the [[Nupi Lan]] or the women's war, which eventually seized with the [[Japanese invasion of india|Japanese invasion of India]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thebetterindia.com/73948/ima-keithal-all-women-market-imphal-manipur/|title=Exploring Ima Keithal, a 500-Year-Old Market with over 5000 Traders - All Women!|last=Pal|first=Sanchari|date=3 November 2016|website=[[The Better India]]|language=|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731225129/http://www.thebetterindia.com/73948/ima-keithal-all-women-market-imphal-manipur/|archive-date=31 July 2017|access-date=}}</ref>

Following [[Independence of India|independence]], the market regained prominence as a commercial center and a hub of socio-political discussions.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> In 2010, the market was moved into the Khawairamband Bazaar complex constructed by the [[Municipal Corporation (India)|Municipal Corporation]] of [[Imphal]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://twocircles.net/2010nov12/khwairamband_bazaar_symbol_women_empowerment.html|title=Khwairamband Bazaar: a symbol of women empowerment|last=Begum|first=Anjuman Ara|date=12 November 2010|website=[[Two Circles]]|language=|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref> The complex had sustained damaged in the [[2016 Imphal earthquake]] which effected the livelihood of around 800 vendors.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oxfamindia.org/featuredstories/women-vendors-manipurs-ima-market-are-angry-after-earthquake-heres-why|title=Women vendors in Manipur's Ima market are angry after the earthquake. Here's why {{!}} Oxfam India|last=|first=|date=6 January 2016|website=[[Oxfam|Oxfam India]]|language=|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref>

== Market ==
The Ima Keithel is located in the Khawairamband Bazaar Complex reconstructed on the site of Purana Bazaar in central Imphal. It is located west of [[Kangla Fort]] and on the Bir Tikendrajit Road in the Thangal Bazar locality.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=news_section.opinions.Construction_of_Ima_Keithel_at_Khwairamband_By_Oinam_Nabakishore|title=Construction of Ima Keithel at Khwairamband By Oinam Nabakishore|last=Singh|first=Oinam Nabakishore|date=|website=e-pao.net|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809235155/http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=news_section.opinions.Construction_of_Ima_Keithel_at_Khwairamband_By_Oinam_Nabakishore|archive-date=9 August 2019|access-date=2020-02-02}}</ref> The complex consists of three large buildings with [[pagoda]] styled roofs.<ref name=":7" /> The market is split into two sections on either side of the road.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://imphalwest.nic.in/tourist-place/womens-market-or-ima-keithel/|title=Ima Keithel|last=|first=|date=|website=imphalwest.nic.in|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref> Two buildings are located to the north of the main road and one to the south. The buildings are segregated into textile housing sections and household groceries sections. There is also a section of stalls under a large tin and [[Tarpaulin|tarp]] arrangement market to the east of the main buildings.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/imphal/attractions/ima-keithel/a/poi-sig/1293695/1317337|title=Ima Keithel {{!}} Imphal, India Attractions|last=|first=|date=|website=[[Lonely Planet]]|language=|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-02-02}}</ref> In order to set up stalls in the main buildings of the market, an annual municipal fees is levied. The fee of a {{convert|16|sqft|m2}} stall was [[Indian rupee|₹]]140,000 per [[annum]] at the time of construction in 2010.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/Politics/76VDJ00TS0jTDTMLyy12gK/In-the-name-of-the-mother.html|title=In the name of the mother|last=Bag|first=Shamik|date=25 June 2010|website=[[Livemint]]|language=|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite book|last=Lisam|first=Khomdan Singh|title=Encyclopaedia Of Manipur|publisher=Kalpaz Publications|year=2011|isbn=978-81-7835-864-2|volume=3|location=India|pages=583–584}}</ref> There is a licensing system in place for vendors with stalls.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/inpictures/2014/02/pictures-india-market-mothers-201425153944212606.html|title=India's 'market of mothers'|last=Das|first=Bijoyeta|date=7 March 2014|website=[[Al Jazeera]]|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref> The market houses around 5000–6000 women vendors at any given day.<ref name=":3" /> As of 2017, the vendors at the market make an annual profit between ₹73,000 and ₹200,000. The annual turnover of the market was estimated to be between ₹40–50{{nbsp}}[[Crore]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.northeastguide.in/featured-post/asias-largest-women-run-market-manipur-perfect-example-women-empowerment/|title=Ima Keithel - Asia's Largest Women Run Market in Manipur|last=|first=|date=2017-03-08|website=NorthEast Guide|language=|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref>

== Management ==
The market is managed by a [[Labour Union|union]] of all the vendors of the market. It maintains a custom of only allowing women who have been married at least once to set up stalls. The women vendors include those who are divorced or have been widowed in the [[insurgency in Manipur]].<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":5" /> The vendors are primarily in the age of 45–70 years.<ref name=":6" /> The union also runs a [[credit]] system for lending to women traders.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/things-to-do/wonder-women-of-india-running-the-show-in-a-500-year-old-market/as64999687.cms|title=Wonder women of India running the show in a 500-year-old market|last=Dey|first=Panchali|date=26 July 2018|website=[[Times of India]]|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref>
== See also ==

* [[Nupi Lan]]
* [[Meira Paibi]]

{{Portal|Organized labour}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Meitei architecture]]
[[Category:Meitei culture]]
[[Category:16th-century establishments in India]]
[[Category:Markets in India]]
[[Category:Retail markets in India]]
[[Category:Bazaars in India]]
[[Category:Shopping districts and streets in India]]
[[Category:History of Manipur]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Manipur]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Manipur]]
[[Category:Imphal]]

Ima Market - Revision history

NydiaChiodo9 at 09:39, 15 March 2026

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article