Khamnu

Khamnu (/kʰəm.nu/) is a figure in Metei legend and folklore. She appears in the epic poem Khamba Thoibi. She is the daughter of prime minister Khuman Puremba of Ancient Moirang. Biologically, she is a daughter of King Chingkhu Telheiba of Ancient Moirang. The two siblings became orphans during their infancy. Khamnu feared evil plots, she took her younger brother and fled her home town. They took refuge in the village of the Kabui chief in the hills.

Khamnu and her younger brother Khamba were given fatherly care by General Thonglen and a nobleman called Chaoba Nongthonba before and after their time at the Kabui village in the hills.

So she is often compared to Kunti of the Mahabharata because of the hard work she did to raise and care for Khuman Khamba.

Princess Thoibi visited Khamnu's house. Meanwhile, but Khamnu had gone out to the market. Thoibi gave her gifts to Khamnu's brother Khamba instead. The two fell in love and bound themselves by an oath before the God Khuman Pokpa. They drank the water in which a golden bracelet had been dipped and vowed to be lovers forever. After this oath, Thoibi addressed Khamnu as "sister".

Revelation of identity Khamnu's younger brother Khamba went out among other men. He joined the wrestling club. While wrestling, Khamba defeated Nongban. Nongban was the champion of all the wrestlers in the kingdom. At Nongban's defeat, Khamba's long-hidden identity as the son of the great warrior Khuman Purenba became common knowledge.

Secret of the dangerous bull Khamnu's younger brother Khuman Khamba was ordered to capture the Kao bull from the Khuman kingdom. Khamnu told her brother the secret of catching the Kao bull and gave him a special rope. She said, "This great bull was once the Lord of your father's herd. Go to him, speak your father's name in his ear, and show him this rope of silk." On the day of the adventure, Khamba did everything as his sister had told him to do. This tamed the bull.

Marriage Khamnu and Feiroijamba got married after the wedding of Khuman Khamba and Moirang Thoibi. Her engagement had been made by Nongtholba and late Purenba a long time earlier.

Namesakes Market Khamnu Keithel (literally, "Khamnu market") was constructed at INR 9 crore (1.2 million US Dollar) under the project of Planning and Development Authority (PDA) in Moirang.