Khamba Thoibi Sheireng

The Khamba Thoibi Sheireng, also spelled as the Khamba Thoibi Seireng (Meitei: ꯈꯝꯕ ꯊꯣꯏꯕꯤ ꯁꯩꯔꯦꯡ, lit. 'Poem on Khamba Thoibi'), is a Classical Meitei language epic poem based on the ancient love story of Khuman prince Khamba and Moirang princess Thoibi of Ancient Moirang kingdom of Ancient Kangleipak (early Manipur). It is the magnum opus of Hijam Anganghal, the "Bard of Samurou". It is regarded as the national epic of the Manipuris. It is regarded as the greatest of all the epic poems in Meitei literature, with 39,000 verses, thereby being the third longest Indian epic poem, next to the Mahabharata and the Ramayana.

The Khamba Thoibi Sheireng is often considered to be in a status of “mahakavya” (transl. great epic; court epic), and its author Hijam Anganghal as a “mahakavi” (transl. great poet; classical poet). For composing the epic, Anganghal was honoured by the Manipuri Sahitya Parishad, with the title “Kabiratna” in 1948.

The epic saga is based on the ancient classic of Khamba and Thoibi, also referred to as the "National Romantic Legend of Manipur" by Suniti Kumar Chatterjee, as well as one of the 7 epic cycles of incarnations, constituting the Moirang Kangleirol of Ancient Moirang.

Another remarkable achievement of Meitei cultural heritage, directly related to the Khamba Thoibi epic poem, is Khamba Thoibi Jagoi (Meitei: ꯈꯝꯕ ꯊꯣꯢꯕꯤ ꯖꯒꯣꯢ, lit. 'Khamba Thoibi classical dance'), also known as Khamba Thoibi ballet, which is a traditional Meitei ritualistic and theatrical classical dance form, a part and parcel of the Lai Haraoba performances, performed in honor of God Thangching (Old Manipuri for 'Thangjing'), the national deity of Ancient Moirang realm. Notably, it is one of the classical cultural elements, giving inspirations to the rise of the Manipuri Raas Leela classical dance drama form.