Khor (Rice beer of Tangkhul)

Domain:Social practices, rituals and festive events

State: Manipur

Description:

Rice beer, among the Tangkhul community of Northeast, is an alcoholic beverage that is made from the fermentation of a particular type of rice called makrei. Tangkhul inhabit the northeastern hills of the Manipur state and part of the Somra tract in Myanmar. The traditional Tangkhul rice beer, generally called khor (though it is also used to refer to a specific type) is prepared from cooked makrei as substrate along with a starter cake called khawo. What is interesting besides the production and the consumption is the culture that accompanies it – crafts associated with it (such as making of gourd vessels, along with it the production of traditional musical instrument called tingteila, and wickered baskets ) and its significance in rituals and festivals.