Imphal, Feb. 15 -- Ima Keithel, the iconic Mothers' Market, remains the emotional and economic heartbeat of Manipur, even as the state navigates one of its most challenging periods.

Believed to be over 500 years old, with some accounts tracing its origins back to the reign of Nongda Lairen Pakhangba nearly two millennia ago, Ima Keithel is often regarded as the world's largest all-women-run market.

For centuries, women from across the hills and valleys of Manipur have gathered here, bringing local produce, handloom items, fish, vegetables, dairy products, and traditional goods. But what makes this market truly extraordinary is not only its history, but also the spirit of coexistence that defines it.

"This market belongs to everyone," s...