Lai Khadang Pandabi
In its own language: ꯂꯥꯏ ꯈꯗꯥꯡ ꯄꯥꯟꯗꯕꯤ
A Meitei folktale about a dishonest wife and the creature she invents to hide her greed
Lai Khadang Pandabi is a traditional story from the Meitei culture of Ancient Kangleipak in Manipur. It follows a lazy woman who tricks her hardworking husband by claiming a supernatural being steals their food.
- Lai Khadang Pandabi means 'the devil without jaws'
- Originates from Meitei culture in Ancient Kangleipak
- Wife claims a chinless witch steals their dried fish
- Husband hides and sees her eating rich meals alone
- Moral teaches against greed and dishonesty
What it is
Lai Khadang Pandabi is a legendary figure from Meitei folklore, originating in Ancient Kangleipak, now known as Manipur. The name translates to various descriptions including 'the devil without jaws' or 'the cheekless woman.' She appears in a cautionary tale about a woman who uses the myth of this creature to justify her own deceitful behavior toward her family.
Where it comes from
The story belongs to the oral traditions of the Meitei people. It is rooted in the cultural history of Ancient Kangleipak. The narrative serves as a moral lesson rather than a religious text. Scholars view it as part of the broader Meitei mythology that explains social values through fictional characters.
How it is done
The tale describes a domestic conflict resolved through observation. A husband suspects his wife of hoarding food. He pretends to leave for work but hides nearby. He watches her prepare rich meals from dried fish while telling him she eats only simple greens. Her physical trait, a short chin, causes her to drop food, revealing her lie.
Tools and materials
The story features specific local foods such as ngakra, ngamu, and ngafak, which are types of dried fish. A storage box called ngarubak holds these provisions. The wife uses these items to create a false narrative of scarcity, blaming the missing food on an external supernatural thief.
Lai Khadang Pandabi, drawn and placed
- Living
- Revived
- Fading
- Historical
- Legendary
- Performed
- Lineage
- Meitei mythology
What it is for
The figure represents the consequences of greed and dishonesty. The story warns that selfishness and poor manners lead to public shame. It promotes values of truthfulness and sharing within the household. The character is not worshipped but used as a negative example in folk education.
Peoples and places
The story is specific to the Meitei culture of Manipur. It reflects local dietary habits and family structures. Similar themes of domestic deceit appear in other regional tales, but Lai Khadang Pandabi remains distinct to this ethnic group's folklore.
At a glance: who, where and when
Peoples
What people believe
The figure exists within the framework of Meitei mythology. She is described as a supernatural entity with no jaw or chin. However, the story reveals her as a metaphor invented by the wife to cover her theft. The tale does not treat her as a real spirit but as a symbol of hidden vice.
When it is done
The story is not tied to specific festivals or calendar days. It is told as a general moral lesson applicable to daily life. There are no recorded occasions for invoking or remembering the figure in ritual contexts.
How scholars and sceptics see it
Anthropologists and historians study the tale to understand Meitei social norms. They analyze how the story reinforces values like honesty and hard work. The narrative provides insight into historical family dynamics and gender roles in Ancient Kangleipak.
Cautions and what is closed
The story highlights the social harm caused by deception. It shows how dishonesty can damage trust within a marriage. The wife's actions lead to her exile to her parents' home, illustrating the serious consequences of breaking familial duties.
Compare and confuse
Lai Khadang Pandabi is related to other Meitei folk figures like Helloi and Hingchabi. These stories often feature supernatural elements to teach moral lessons. The theme of a deceptive spouse appears in many global folk traditions.
Questions people ask about Lai Khadang Pandabi
What is Lai Khadang Pandabi?
She is a legendary figure from Meitei folklore, also known as the witch without chin. She appears in a story about a dishonest wife who invents a supernatural thief to hide her own greed.
Where does this story come from?
The tale originates from the Meitei culture of Ancient Kangleipak, which is present-day Manipur in India. It is part of the region's traditional oral storytelling heritage.
Why is she called the cheekless woman?
The name refers to a physical trait mentioned in the story. In the narrative, the wife mimics this condition when eating, dropping food because of her short chin, which reveals her lie.
What is the moral of the story?
The story warns that greed and dishonesty lead to shame. It promotes honesty and sharing as essential values for maintaining harmony within a household and community.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Lai Khadang Pandabi", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryJaadu rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. Names and customs differ from one community to the next, and some knowledge is closed to outsiders and left out here. This page describes belief and practice. It does not say that any of it works, it is not a how-to, and it is not medical advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-14.
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