Study of biodiversity and positive aspects of medicinal plant conservation in some selected sacred groves of Manipur

Abstract

Manipur was a small princely state in the North-East India, having a history of about 2000 years. The ancestors of Manipur (Meiteies) believed and worshiped of forest deities which is called Umang lai (Ancestral Deities). Umang lai in Manipur is always associated with Sacred Groves. There are taboos like it is misfortune to cut down the trees grown in Sacred Groves. So people around each and every Sacred Groves are kept protected since time immemorial. The Sacred Groves are Scattered mainly in the valleys. Umang lai Haraoba, a festival of dance and music is always done every year which last 1 to 2 weeks. The Sacred Groves are protected by locale people and lai haraoba committee and this links the present society to the past in terms of religious cultural rituals. This is again descends to the Biodiversity and Medicinal plant conservation in the Sacred Groves.