Ima Keithel

A remarkable market in Imphal, capital of Manipur, this bazaar is run entirely by women, a tradition said to stretch back centuries and give it the name meaning "mothers' market." Thousands of female traders occupy rows of stalls across several halls, selling vegetables, fish, textiles, handicrafts and local specialities. The market has long served as an economic and social institution for the region's women, and a focal point of community life and even protest. It is among the largest women-only markets on earth.