With Meitei Cheiraoba Festival, ritual Manipuri new year celebrated

Imphal: Meitei Cheiraoba Festival, (Local Manipuri New Year- 2023), a socio-religious institution of Manipuri society that marks the end of the outgoing year with the beginning of the New Year, ritual, excitement and traditional lavish feasts celebrated with Wednesday in every house.

Sajibu Nongma P?nba, also known as Meetei Cheiraoba or Sajibu Cheiraoba, is a lunar year festival of people following the Sanamahism religion in Manipur. It began during the reign of King Maliya Phambalcha (1359 BC-1329 BC).
As part of the festival, people wear new clothes, clean their houses and decorate vessels that are first offered to various deities.

Also as part of the ritual, people climb to the top of the nearest hill in the belief that it will enable them to reach greater heights in worldly life.
On this day married sisters and daughters offer clothes and room to their brothers, parents and guardians.
Apart from this, there were entertainment programs of Manipuri courtyard plays and traditional Manipuri folk dances at various places in the afternoon.

On the occasion, the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, congratulated the citizens and expressed the hope that the festival binds the various communities of India in bonds of love, harmony and affection.
Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey urged all to dedicate themselves to promoting peace and harmony to make Manipur better in the future.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said, “The day is celebrated with piety and serenity and is celebrated with traditional food and ceremonial offerings to the Lord.”
Manipur Speaker Satyabrata Singh said the Cheiraoba celebration began during the reign of King Maliya Phambalcha (1359 BC-1329 BC) who started the Meitei calendar year after ascending the throne at the age of 25.