– Eromba (mashed chutney), Nga-thongba (fish curry), and Chak-hao (black rice) appear in romantic scenes more than kisses. To share a meal is to share a soul in Manipuri fiction.

| Symbol | Meaning in Romance | |--------|---------------------| | | Fragrant, short-lived – fleeting love or memory | | Loktak's lilies | Beautiful but rooted in murky water – love in difficult circumstances | | Kang (dice game) | Chance and fate in relationships | | Echei (lullaby) | A mother’s voice – nostalgia and hidden sorrow | | Thabal Chongba | The moonlight dance – the classic pre-modern meeting place for lovers |