• Yumnam Sapha Wangam Apanthoi M

The traditional Meetei house known as the Yumjao is a noticeable architectural-cultural feature that reflects the unique identity of Meetei Community that can be seen as an embodiment of their traditional social structure based on their kinship. The Yumjao constructed according to the human figure is one of the cultural emblems that carry the ancestral belief system. Every Meetei believe that all the ancestors were born in the Yumjao and it is considered as a sacred place that begets and protects all the lives of the family. Such system derives a sense of identity among the people belonging to the community. Moreover, the space and places available inside the Yumjao are demarcated into different sections for different purposes, such as activities related to the sacred and profane. In addition, there are different rooms that are specifically allotted to particular members of the family as per their sex and social status. So, the underlying structure of the Yumjao is a cultural text that reveals their history, practical function, social organization and cultural message. Moreover, the art and craft that are placed in terms of their space, place and context reflect their cultural identity, habits, and living style perceived and conceived by the community itself. Therefore, the present paper is an attempt to understand the Meetei worldview from their architectural structure and pattern in and around their domestic spaces. Further, this paper tries to examine the thought and activities involved with the art and craft in defining the domestic symbolism. It will explore the domestic field of social life to show explicit and implicit social landscape. This paper will reflect their perception, belief system, understanding of their notion and values, a vision how they shaped and experienced their reality.

Meetei, Yumjao, Space, Arts and Crafts, Worldview.

"The Meetei Yumjao: A Cultural Symbol ", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.5, Issue 12, page no.514-523, December-2018, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1812B65.pdf

"The Meetei Yumjao: A Cultural Symbol ", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.5, Issue 12, page no. pp514-523, December-2018, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1812B65.pdf