As the first rays of light hit the capital of the remote state of Manipur, the “mothers’ market” is already enveloped in a cacophony of colours and spicy flavours. Fish stalls echo with high-pitched voices of women queuing for succulent golden carp from the nearby Loktak Lake, while early buyers wander around stalls overflowing with local fruit and vegetables, trying to secure the best produce of the day. A few metres away, older women sit alongside rows of pottery and bamboo baskets, chitchatting nonchalantly with their peers. Before unpacking their merchandise, many pay a quick visit to the shrine of Ima
