TRADITIONAL USES OF FLORA AND FAUNA BY THE KUKI TRIBES OF MANIPUR: A CULTURAL AND RITUAL PERSPECTIVE

Through their unique cultural and ritual activities, the Kuki tribes of Manipur vividly reflect their deep-rooted relationship to nature. This essay investigates the ways in which Kuki festivals, rituals, and belief systems are entwined with different plant and animal species. The study emphasises the religious and symbolic functions that plants and animals play in festivals, healing ceremonies, rites of passage, and community government. It does this by drawing on anthropological fieldwork and conversations with elders and cultural leaders. The results show that Kuki society's traditional ecological knowledge is not only practical but also has spiritual meaning, making it a vital component of social cohesiveness and cultural identity. Such intangible cultural treasure must be preserved in the face of swift socio-environmental change. Keywords: Kuki tribe, flora, fauna, rituals, culture.