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How did Vaishnavism become the state religion of the Meiteis in the 18th century?
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Manipur
The largest freshwater lake in northeastern India, Loktak Lake is known for its numerous phumdis, or floating islands with vegetation.
Vaishnavism became the state religion of the Meiteis in the 18th century following the arrival of Brahmins from the Bengal region.1
Prior to this transition, the Meiteis primarily practiced an indigenous faith known as Sanamahism, which centered on ancestor worship and the veneration of the creator deity, Sanamahi. Despite the widespread adoption of Vaishnavism—a major branch of Hinduism—these traditional practices have persisted, and ancestor worship continues to be observed in many Meitei households today.1