It's a season of celebration and gaiety for 'Poumai', one of the biggest tribes in Manipur wit its population totaling 1,14,764 and 97villages. Agriculture being the sole source of livelihood and backbone of the economy, traditional festival called Paoki has been celebrated by various villagers around this time of the year since time immemorial, so as to envoke gods for healthy crops, protection for natural disaster, good monsoon and bountiful harvest.

Another significance of the celebration is making friendship with neighboring villagers and deepening the bound between them with yummy delicases and best drinks. While the date of the fest has been slated differently from village to village, the rituals, customs and mode of celebration remain identical.

Prior to the main date of the fest, there is a sequence of rituals, fast and observation mainly done by the village king and pagans. The genesis of the occasion is generally begun in the last week of April (Nakhou). There will be 'Dilai' on the fourth day of the month (i.e. is Khoukhai Adaiki, poumai's traditional Lunar counting in reverse order) on which the king will fast for his subjects, foretell the future climate through performing certain rituals and ask for favorable monsoon.

On the 'Diidilai' (khoukhai Asiiki), the village pagans and the king will observe and make sacrifice to deity for regular water supply for the crops. On the 'Murasoulai Day' (khoukai Ahai ki), they will fast and pray for the avoidance of pests, rodents and other natural destructions.

And there is also a day called 'Deiranailai' observed by the village pagans to marked the completion of the last four observations and ask for fertility of the soil. On the day of the first week of may (Dziikhou) village elders will put heads together and pencil in the day of plantation in accordance with the convenience of the villagers and arrival of the monsoon.

Thus most of the Paoki falls in the of may with 'Ranai Teithe', another significant day, is observed as the preparation for Paoki. Healthiest domestic animals are butchered. Delicious items and drinks are made ready out of household stocks for the guests and visitors.

Having tilled, ploughed and kept fields ready for plantation, young paddy plans have been uprooted from the dry land where they had been sown and placed them in the field on the eve of the main day fixed by the elders. They day is called 'Thaopaiki' or Guest Arrival day. When the nightfalls, everyone is fed to their content and charged with joyful spirit.

Man folks of the host village will war cry about the village and get blessing from the king before wrestling contest kick-starts between the hosts and the guests. Both the young and old, man and woman gathered at the sacred spot to witness the great event usually held in front of the king residence.

The winners are well awarded and honored in a traditional manner At the crack of dawn of the 'Paoki Day', the head of every household would set out to the field and make sacrifice to gods before anyone steps in. The auspicious day begins thereafter with much fun and cheers, buffalo horns blaring out triumphantly to arose the spirit of the day and add to the gaiety of the occasion.

With the bunch of young paddy plans in their hand, everyone will be in the field busy transplanting them. Herd of enthusiastic volunteers and youngster would roam about in the fields to entertain and help everybody especially the needy and the guestless hosts. The hosts lavishly dish out fabulous food and drinks for the guests and the helpers. It's also a time to find new friends and meet old ones.

Cocktail of traditional and modern music can be heard belting out melodiously across the fields, lending the festive color to the great day. In order to make the occasion memorable, everyone would enjoy each moment and pass the day with great jubilation and festive spirit.

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