Shaphee Lanphee

Shaphee Lanphee is a type of Hand-woven fabric shawl which is specially made by needle work without frame in cotton or sometimes in silk yarn on Loin loom by Meitei woman. It is worn by Nagas of Manipur as a special recognition of honour. The shawl is usually decorated with 10 different highly stylized motifs such as- i) Iroichi (local name of buffalo horn), ii) Nga (local name of fish), iii) Numit (local name of sun), iv) Phantup (local name of seat), v) Shagol (local name of horse),vi) Shamu (local name of elephant), vii) Ta(local name of spear), viii) Tha (local name of moon), ix) Thawanmichak (local name of star), and x) Wahong (local name of peacock). All the stylized motifs are embroidered with needle manually with cotton threads. Historically, Shaphee Lanphee was presented as award by the Meitei Kings to the worthy tribes of Manipur as a special recognition of honour. It marks as pride and respect to the person who possess it. It is now exported abroad in diversified form as garment.