The Senapati District is located between 93.29o - 94.15 o East Longitude and 24.37 o -25.37 o North Latitude. The District is bounded on the south by Imphal District, on the East by Ukhrul District , on the west by Tamenglong District and on the north by the state of Nagaland. The Senapati District with its Headquarters at Senapati. The District is divided into five Sub-Divisions namely:

Mao-Maram with its HQ. at Tadubi

Paomata Sub-division with its HQ. at Paomata

Purul Sub-division with its HQ. at Purul

Kangpokpi Sub-division with its HQ. at Kangpokpi

Saikul Sub-division with its HQ. at Saikul

Saitu-Gamphazol Sub-division with its HQ. at Saparmeina.

Places of Interest

Mao

Mao is one of the oldest Hill Stations of Manipur bordering nagaland located midway between Dimapur and Imphal on the National Highway 39 at an altitude of 5762.02 feet above sea level. the Mao Inspection Bungalow built by the Royal Military Engineers in 1897 is a hundred years old . The cultural mosaic of Manipur is not complete without the colourful Mao Naga Dance.

Makhel

Makhel is the historical place of Naga dispersal and the legendary place of common origin of the Meiteis and Nagas. Makhel has the oldest pear tree,memorial to the dispersal , Dzukou valley with its pristine beauty blooms with a rare lily between May and July . The Regional Potatos Farm for a scenic view of the steep drop to Ikhro near the Highway ; and Mt. Isu , the highest peak in the region .

Tamemglong is one of the eight districts of Manipur located along the western boundary of the state. Tamenglong is entirely composed of hills, ranges and narrow valleys. The hilltops and valley sides are dotted with small hamlets, located at strategic points. The land was believed to have been formed due to orogenic movement during cretaceous and Eocene period. The main rock formations are sandstone, shale, schist. Due to weak and fragile nature of rocks and high gradient of the hill slopes, landslide is a common phenomenon in the whole district in rainy season.

People and Culture

Tamenglong is inhabited by majority Zeliangrong Naga tribe ( comprising of Rongmei,Liangmei, Zemei and Pumei) and Kukis, besides minority Hmars, Chirus and Khasis. Racially or physically and linguistically Zeliangrongs are Tibeto-Burman (Indo-Mongoloid) of Sino-Tibetan family of the Mongolian race. Based on history it is assumed that Mongoloid groups including Zeliangrong Nagas were inhabiting the upper course of the Yangtze and Howang Ho rivers in China in the prehistoric times. The Zeliangrong belongs to patriarchal social system. Each clan enjoys equal status. Clan exogamy is strictly observed. Cross-cousin marriage is most preferred but parallel cross-cousin is seldom. Besides following many other normal customs of a Naga-tribe, they also have some strange and fearful customs.

Festivals

Festivals and Dances of the Zeliangrong are closely linked up with religion, which is associated with their economic vocation and socio-cultural ethos. Festivals reflect different stages of agricultural activities, here talents, physical strength are expressed. Every month there is a festival. Some festivals are :

Gan-Ngai

This festival is celebrated in the month of December-January after harvest for 5 (five) days. Blowing horn herald the festival, fresh fire is made with the ancient friction method and distributed in every household. Villagers, irrespective of age dressed in their best attire, keep up the dance and songs, intercepting only by short intervals of repose and break dedicated to feasting.

Rih-ngai:(Chaga Ngai)

Celebrate during January-February is this War festival which is exclusively for male. No stranger is allowed to enter the village. Men abstain from sexual intercourse and foods cooked by women are not taken. An interesting feature is Raangh-Kapmei or shooting at an effigy of a warrior with pointed bamboo splits. It is believed that one who hit the effigy on the head, will be successful in war, the chest, will be successful in hunting, the abdomen, will be lucky in cultivation, etc. Likewise there are altogether seven segments on the effigy, which they believed would reveal their fortune of the year.

Gudui-Ngai

Performed during the seed-sowing season in April. After completion of task like clearance of jungle for cultivation everyone will drink juice (dui) of ginger (Gu). Tug of war is performed between male and female as a symbolic representation of competition between God and Goddess for possessing the paddy. If the girls win it indicates a good harvest.

Banruhmei & Tarang

These are two feasts of merit performed by one who is bold, brave, philanthropist, generous and rich enough to feed the whole village. It is believed that if a man could perform both the feasts of merit during his lifetime, he is supposed to have accomplished his life's work. During Banruhmei various songs and dances are performed observing strict forms. The entire villagers, irrespective of age, will participate the feast, which may last a few weeks. The wife of the host will perform a special dance with a rice beer cistern of gourd, pouring it out rhythmically. Tarang (or Kaisumei) can be performed only by those who have performed Banruhmei, if he still can afford. Here the special house of merit called Tarang-kai is constructed.

Dances

The rich cultural heritage of the Zeliangrong is reflected in their varieties of art specially dances performed during their festivals. Dances are different in their steps, forms & seasons. Zeliangrong enjoy dancing throughout the day and the night. Costumes are generally colourful along with ornaments and feathers of Hornbill, which according to mythology was transformed from an old orphan boy, Guiliang. Deep thudding of drums shake the ground underfoot & jar the body. Endless steps and forms under the moonlight and glares of the torches, dances of the night is quite an experience. Zeiliangrong use a violin like musical instrument called Nrah to give accompany to songs.