Imphals

Imphals refers to residents of Imphal, the capital city of Manipur, India. The term is informal and used in everyday speech and local media to denote people from Imphal as a place rather than a fixed ethnic group. Imphal lies in the Imphal Valley in the northeastern region of India and serves as the administrative, commercial, and cultural center of Manipur.

Demographics and language: The city’s population is diverse, reflecting Manipur’s mix of Meitei (Manipuri) communities and various hill tribes. Meitei (Manipuri) is the most widely spoken language in the city; English is widely used in education, government, and business, and several other languages are spoken by smaller communities.

Culture and life: Imphals participate in Manipur’s broader cultural traditions, including Manipuri classical dance, music, and festivals such as Yaoshang and Ningol Kanba Cheiraoba. The city hosts markets, temples and churches and a growing urban service sector with government offices and educational institutions.

Role and identity: As the state capital, Imphal shapes regional politics and economy. The term "Imphals" underscores a civic identity tied to Imphal rather than to any single ethnic group, and it coexists with the broader demography of Manipur.