Visibilizing the Invisible

Nupa Amaibis/ Maibis are the men shaman of Manipur. They were seen mostly in Lai Haraoba performing dance and rituals. The Amaibi dress they wear during Lai Haraoba is a bit different from the one that is worn by female Amaibi. Until the late 1990s, their participation was seen popularly in every Lai Haroaba place. However, in the present days, their participation and visibility in the Lai Haraoba places is remarkably low. Within the Nupa Amaibi community, there are also a very few individuals who identify as Nupi Maanbi (trans women). The aim of this research is to explore the possible reason of the lower representation of Nupa Amaibi in Lai Haraoba spaces and reduction in the number of their population. There is no literature that is exclusively based on Nupa Amaibi. Hence, this documentation intends to place an introduction of Nupa Amaibi through individual stories.