Here’s a small peep into the unique Ima Market in Imphal. Its perhaps the only market in the world run entirely by women. Amidst the vendors there are always women who will try to sell you their wares at a high price or trick you into believing that you’re holding a cotton towel when its clearly not but its easy to get fooled. But for every such person, there are 10 others who’ll educate you on fabrics, traditional attires and ceremonial significances and for that I absolutely love this market. The vendors all help each other and will point you in the right direction for the products you want and even guide you about it!

And another really nice thing I find is that every Ima or Mother there will give her blessings to the products you buy from them. Its a blessing just to be able to spend some time here in peace and watch the constant bargaining and heckling and banter.

A panoramic view of the amazing all women IMA KEITHEL or Ima Market

5-6 feet high stacks of gorgeous hand woven phaneks(Meitei sarong), shawls & Innaphis amongst other products!

Every aisle had something amazing to offer… there were plenty of non-manipuri dupattas(stoles) & power-loom woven bed linen too, much to my disappointment!