Markets are often seen simply as places to buy and sell. But in many parts of India, especially in the northeast, they play a role much larger than that.
They are vibrant public spaces where communities meet, traditions are shared and relationships are built. In Manipur, weekly markets, locally known as Hapta Keithel (hapta meaning week, keithel meaning market), serve this dual purpose.
They are hubs of trade, culture and social connection. People gather not only to trade goods but also to share stories, languages and customs, thereby helping to build relationships that stretch across villages and communities. These markets weave together a social fabric that extends far beyond individual households.
Leimakhong Thursday Market: A Hub of Life and Connection
Leimakhong, a town in Kangpokpi District near Imphal, has hosted a Thursday market for more than fifty years.
Situated at the foothills, it drew villagers from the surrounding plains and hills who came to sell vegetables, fruits, meats and handmade goods.
Over time, more modern items such as garments and household products began to appear indicating changing preferences, rising incomes and expanding trade networks.
What made Leimakhong special was its social character.
Traders from different communities including Kukis, Meiteis, Nagas, Nepalis, Marwaris and others interacted freely and exchanged not only commodities but also greetings, jokes and stories.
The presence of banks, schools and the Army Headquarters brought students, staff and army personnel into the market, thereby enriching its diversity.
Over time, these weekly gatherings nurtured relationships that extended beyond trade: friendships, shared celebrations and even marriages that connected families across ethnic lines. The market thus became a weekly ritual where social capital and community cohesion grew alongside economic activity.
A Market of Sights, Sounds and Smells
Walking through Leimakhong on a Thursday morning, one could listen to the rhythmic bargaining of vendors, the laughter of children skipping through stalls and the buzz of motorbikes arriving from distant villages.
Fresh produce displayed in colorful piles, the smell of dried fish, spices and local snacks filling the air and vibrant clothes flowing in the morning breeze made the market a sensory experience. People stopped not only to buy but to catch up, share news or offer advice, thereby creating a sense of belonging and mutual trust.
Ethnic Conflict and the Fragmentation of Markets
Everything changed in May 2023, when ethnic violence erupted between the Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur. In Leimakhong, a Kuki-majority area, Meiteis could no longer visit safely, while Kukis avoided Meitei-majority regions. This pattern was repeated across the state.
Markets that once brought communities together became segregated spaces and social networks that had supported inter-ethnic ties were replaced by suspicion and fear. Crossing into areas dominated by other communities carried real risks with so-called ‘buffer zones’ patrolled by local volunteers and state forces.
The Thursday market, once a symbol of inter-ethnic harmony, now reflects shifting social dynamics in Manipur.
Traders who once relied on cross-community networks face disrupted livelihoods, while shoppers change their routines in fear. The social ritual of the weekly market has been fractured, the Leimakhong market, once a vibrant hub of exchange, now stood as a silent casualty of conflict.
Khurkhul Weekly Market: Rebuilding with Limits
As part of local efforts to rebuild livelihoods, a new market emerged in early 2024 in Khurkhul village, just two kilometres from Leimakhong.
Popularly known as Apunba Khurkhul Ema Keithel, which translates to ‘United Khurkhul Mothers’ Market’, it operates on Wednesday mornings and aims to bring communities together. Open spaces were gradually filled with sheds and stalls, which were supported by local leadership and the MLA representing the area.
Though people of all backgrounds buy and sell freely, the absence of Kuki traders, once integral to regional trade networks, highlights the limits of inclusion. Social interactions continue but cautiously. Traders and buyers exchange greetings, yet spontaneous mingling and inter-community interactions have given way to careful navigation.
The market meets economic needs, but its social fabric is less vibrant than before. It reflects a “new normal” and a new social reality, where coexistence cannot be taken for granted. The absence of one community may not halt commerce, yet it subtly alters the market’s social fabric.
Resilience Amid Hardship
Despite these challenges, the Khurkhul market demonstrates resilience. Local women groups and community leaders coordinate stalls, help newcomers set up and maintain basic order.
Residents share labour, lend tools and support each other in ways reminiscent of pre-conflict networks. These grassroots initiatives are of course vital, but they cannot fully replace institutional support. The limited involvement of the state leaves displaced traders uncertain about going back to their villages or accessing larger markets.
Markets as Mirrors of Society
The weekly markets of Manipur show how social and political tensions shape everyday life.
Where markets once fostered trust, now they reveal divisions. Offices, schools and hospitals also reflect this segregation: communities continue to operate separately, even in shared spaces. Yet markets hold potential. They are places where relationships can slowly rebuild and where mutual understanding can begin again.
Reviving markets is about more than commerce. It is about rebuilding trust, creating inclusive spaces and restoring the social fabric that allows communities to thrive together. With the support of civil society, local leaders and the state, these weekly markets can become spaces of reconciliation, not trade alone.
Rebuilding Connection
The story of Leimakhong and Khurkhul markets is a reminder that peace is lived in everyday spaces. Markets represent the strength of social ties and their transformation mirrors the fractures in the Manipuri society. Rebuilding these spaces, both physically and socially, is an important step toward coexistence and healing. Economic activity and social life are closely connected and reviving weekly markets can help restore both.
In Manipur, the markets are not just places where goods change hands. They are where communities reconnect, trust is rebuilt and the possibility of a shared future takes root through one weekly gathering at a time.
Views expressed are that of the author and do not reflect EastMojo’s views on this or any other issue. The author teaches at Department of Sociology, Sikkim University, Gangtok, Sikkim.
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