X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy is sensitive to the chemical environments and the geometrical arrangement of the atoms surrounding the absorbing atom. This aspect has been used to understand the electronic structure of a non‐perovskite hexagonal prototype manganites, HoMnO3. While the pre‐edge spectral features observed at O K‐edge arise due to the crystal field effects and results in five non‐degenerate Mn 3d‐ O 2p derived orbitals, the Mn K‐edge spectra show that Mn ions are in the geometrically frustrated triangular lattices. Above results may provide the possible reasons for the coexistence of magnetism and ferroelectric nature in these manganites.
