The Ibudhou Thangjing temple in central Moirang is one of the most important sites of indigenous Meitei religion. It is dedicated to Thangjing, the umang lai (forest deity) and traditional guardian of the Moirang region. The cult of Thangjing is older than the introduction of Vaishnavite Hinduism to Manipur in the early eighteenth century, and continues to be observed by many Meitei alongside or instead of Hindu practice.
The temple complex is modest in scale — a low brick-and-tile shrine, a courtyard, a number of smaller subsidiary shrines — but is the focus of one of Manipur's most spectacular festivals, the Moirang Lai Haraoba in May, when priests, priestesses (maiba and maibi) and dancers spend several days in ritual song and dance honouring Thangjing. Non-Hindu visitors are welcome to watch the public parts of the festival; the inner sanctum is closed to outsiders.