helloi

Hellois are one of the most common female spirits believed in Meitei mythology and folklore.{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/feminismintradit0000chak/page/119/mode/2up?q=Heloi+Hinchhabi|title=Feminism in a traditional society: women of the Manipur Valley|last=Chaki-Sircar|first=Manjusri|date=1984|publisher=New Delhi : Shakti Books ; New York : Distributed by Advent Books|others=Internet Archive|isbn=978-0-7069-1967-7|pages=119}} According to the {{langnf|mni|Maibas|priests}}, hellois are the most powerful female spirits. They could spread diseases, especially sexually transmitted infections. Hellois attack men and cause disorder of mind. From men, women may get sick in their sexual organs. According to belief, the highest rate of such attacks occurs in March and April. It is the time of celebrating Yaoshang, a spring festival. At the same time, Thabal Chongba occasions are performed by both men and women.{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/feminismintradit0000chak/page/120/mode/2up?q=Heloi+Hinchhabi|title=Feminism in a traditional society: women of the Manipur Valley|last=Chaki-Sircar|first=Manjusri|date=1984|publisher=New Delhi : Shakti Books ; New York : Distributed by Advent Books|others=Internet Archive|isbn=978-0-7069-1967-7|pages=120}}

{{langnf|mni|Helloi Oknaba|Encounter with Hellois}} is one of the most common events of meeting with supernatural beings in Meitei folklore. Challenges to or conflicts with the hellois often make one's life unhappy. In such cases, one may get sick, mental imbalance and temporary madness. If such people are not properly treated by a maiba or a maibi, the symptoms may continue long. It may lead to permanent madness (mental impairment). One who meets a helloi often acts in abnormal and mentally challenged ways.{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/dli.language.1357/page/n129/mode/2up?q=Heloi+Helois+Meitei|title=A collection of Essays in Manipuri Folklore|author=Chirom Rajketan Singh|last2=Sadananda Mayanglambam|date=2013|pages=129}} For example, the victims may not be able to recognize his family members and friends. However, the victims could still communicate with the very helloi. The spirit may not easily leave the victim. She will demand something in return to leave the victim. Thus, Hellois seek their needs by bewitching people.{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/dli.language.1357/page/n135/mode/2up?q=Heloi|title=A collection of Essays in Manipuri Folklore|author=Chirom Rajketan Singh|last2=Sadananda Mayanglambam|date=2013|pages=135}}

The maibas perform rites and rituals to prevent attraction and attacks on men by the hellois. They feed the spirits with animal faeces and some specially prepared ritual foods.{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/feminismintradit0000chak/page/120/mode/2up?q=Heloi+Hinchhabi|title=Feminism in a traditional society: women of the Manipur Valley|last=Chaki-Sircar|first=Manjusri|date=1984|publisher=New Delhi : Shakti Books ; New York : Distributed by Advent Books|others=Internet Archive|isbn=978-0-7069-1967-7|pages=120}}

{{See|Hingchabi}}

Hellois and Hingchabis are the two most popular forms of female spirits in Meitei mythology and folklore.{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/feminismintradit0000chak/page/119/mode/2up?q=Heloi+Hinchhabi|title=Feminism in a traditional society: women of the Manipur Valley|last=Chaki-Sircar|first=Manjusri|date=1984|publisher=New Delhi : Shakti Books ; New York : Distributed by Advent Books|others=Internet Archive|isbn=978-0-7069-1967-7|pages=119}} But these two mythical beings are not almost all similar. Hellois are wandering spirits.{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/feminismintradit0000chak/page/120/mode/2up?q=Heloi+Hinchhabi|title=Feminism in a traditional society: women of the Manipur Valley|last=Chaki-Sircar|first=Manjusri|date=1984|publisher=New Delhi : Shakti Books ; New York : Distributed by Advent Books|others=Internet Archive|isbn=978-0-7069-1967-7|pages=120}} On the other hand, Hingchabis live inside some women. They exposed their supernatural powers into the bodies of the victims. They cause illness, mental sufferings, bad luck, and sometimes even death to the victims.{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/feminismintradit0000chak/page/119/mode/2up?q=Heloi+Hinchhabi|title=Feminism in a traditional society: women of the Manipur Valley|last=Chaki-Sircar|first=Manjusri|date=1984|publisher=New Delhi : Shakti Books ; New York : Distributed by Advent Books|others=Internet Archive|isbn=978-0-7069-1967-7|pages=119}}{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/feminismintradit0000chak/page/120/mode/2up?q=Heloi+Hinchhabi|title=Feminism in a traditional society: women of the Manipur Valley|last=Chaki-Sircar|first=Manjusri|date=1984|publisher=New Delhi : Shakti Books ; New York : Distributed by Advent Books|others=Internet Archive|isbn=978-0-7069-1967-7|pages=120}}

• Lairembigee Eshei (Song of the Nymphs) - a Meitei language play directed by Ratan Thiyam{{Cite web |title=LAIREMBIGEE ESHEI (SONG OF THE NYMPHS) – 21st Bharat Rang Mahotsav 2020 |url=https://www.21brm.nsd.gov.in/laiembigee-ishei-song-of-the-nymphs/ |access-date=2022-11-03 |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-11-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101121426/https://www.21brm.nsd.gov.in/laiembigee-ishei-song-of-the-nymphs/ |url-status=dead }}
• HELLOY - Between conscious and sub-consciousness - a Meitei language film directed by G. Narayan Sharma{{Cite web |title=HELLOY Between conscious and sub-consciousness: A film by G. Narayan Sharma |url=http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=reviews.movies.Helloy |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=e-pao.net}}
• Dr. Hemogi Helloi (Dr. Hemogee Heloi) - a 2013 Meitei language film, directed by Homen D' Wai,{{cite web |title=Dr. Hemogee Heloi (2013) |website=KLMDb |url=https://klmdb.com/title/0000208 |language=en |access-date=2022-11-03}} featuring a helloi (heloi) having a love affair with a human man named "Dr. Hemo"{{Cite news |last=Gurumayum |first=William |title=When I was in BJP I was like Dr. Hemo of the Manipuri film Dr. Hemogi Helloi- O Joy |newspaper=Imphal Times |url=https://www.imphaltimes.com/news/item/12083-when-i-was-in-bjp-i-was-like-dr-hemo-of-the-manipuri-film-dr-hemogi-helloi-o-joy |access-date=2022-11-03 |language=en-gb}}

• Lai Khutsangbi
• Uchek Langmeidong

{{Reflist}}

• [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.466014 Heloi Heloi Mi Heloi by Pramodini, Khaidem]

{{Commons}}

• {{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=H. Surmangol |date=2006 |others=University of Chicago |title=Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary.Heloi |url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/app/sharma_query.py?qs=%EA%AF%8D%EA%AF%A6%EA%AF%82%EA%AF%A3%EA%AF%8F&searchhws=yes |access-date=2022-03-02 |website=dsal.uchicago.edu |publisher=Digital Dictionaries of South Asia}}
• {{Cite web|title=Helloy|url=http://www.e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=reviews.movies.Helloy|access-date=2022-03-01|website=www.e-pao.net}}
• {{Cite web|title=Lairembi Khuntarol The story of humankind and living plants By James Khangenbam|url=http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=manipur.Arts_and_Culture.Article_Lai_Haraoba.Lairembi_Khuntarol_The_story_of_humankind_and_living_plants_By_James_Khangenbam|access-date=2022-03-01|website=e-pao.net}}
• {{Cite web|title=Heloi ArtWork by Laishram Meena 201312|url=http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=leisure.cartoon.Heloi_ArtWork_by_Laishram_Meena_201312|access-date=2022-03-01|website=e-pao.net}}

Category:Meitei folklore

Category:Meitei mythology

Category:Women in Meitei culture