Hiyang Tannaba

{{Short description|Indian boat race}}

{{Distinguish|Heikru Hidongba}}

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Hiyang Tannaba ({{langx|mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯍꯤꯌꯥꯡ ꯇꯥꯟꯅꯕ}}||boat race}}){{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tSduAAAAMAAJ&q=hiyang+tannaba|title=Travel India: A Complete Guide to Tourist|first=Chitra|last=Garg|date=November 10, 2007|publisher=Lotus Press|isbn=9788183820844|via=Google Books}} is a traditional boat race ceremony performed in Manipur, India as a part of the religious festival of Lai Haraoba.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G_RtAAAAMAAJ&q=hiyang+tannaba|title=Students' Britannica India: Select essays|date=November 10, 2000|publisher=Encyclopaedia Britannica (India)|isbn=9780852297629|via=Google Books}}{{Cite web|title=sports.indiapress.org|url=http://sports.indiapress.org/hiyang_tannaba.php}} It is generally organized in the month of November at many places including Thangapat (moat). The boats called Hiyang Hiren are regarded as invested with spiritual powers and the game is associated with religious rites.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ikluAAAAMAAJ&q=hiyang+tannaba|title=A Socio Economic History of South Assam|first=Suhas|last=Chatterjee|date=November 10, 2000|publisher=Printwell Publishers Distributors|isbn=9788170445180|via=Google Books}} The Meiteis believe that the worship of the Hiyang Hiren will bring protection from evil spirits.

The Hiyang Tannaba festival has been celebrated since the time of Nongda Lairen Pakhangba (c. 33 AD) in Kangleipak kingdom.{{Cite book |last=Rastogi |first=Priyanka |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mdmYDwAAQBAJ&dq=nongda+lairen+pakhangba&pg=PT95 |title=Early Sunrise, Early Sunset: Tales of a Solo Woman Traveler Across North East and East India |date=2019-05-13 |publisher=Partridge Publishing |isbn=978-1-5437-0523-2 |pages=95 |language=en}}