IMPHAL, April 2 – Manipur today celebrated ‘Sajibu-nong-ma-panba’ popularly known as “cheirsoba”, the Meitei new year day across the State. Inhabitants of this picturesque place pray for a fruitful harvest drying celebration in the next season as spring arrives in the region.
Every household worships the God of grain and every Manipuri family prepares identical menu.
In the evening, the family members along with their children enjoy a walk in the nearby hillocks as part of the occasion. However, nowadays, almost all the people of Imphal walk towards ‘Cheiraoching’ (meaning hillock) developed at different places. Cheiraoching of Thangmeiband, Singjamei, Hiyangthang, Langthabal and Patsoi are some of the ‘hillocks’.
As part of the celebrations, married sisters wish their brothers and present clothes as gift items. In view of sudden change of the gift varieties since the past couple of years, some of the students bodies in the State have appealed to the people to use “handloom products” as gift items in order to preserve the tradition.
Governor Ved Marwah has greeted the people of Manipur on this occasion and hoped that the year to come will see the restoration of peace, bring prosperity and progress to the State. Extending his greetings to the people on this occasion, the State Chief Minister Okram Ibobi also hoped that the days to come will bring prosperity to Manipur.
Invoking the traditional Meitei belief that what we do on ‘Cheiraoba’, Ibobi also called for sowing the seeds of love and peace so that the people can harvest the fruits of peace, prosperity and harmony.
Since last evening, as part of the Cheiraoba, holy water collected from the seven Meitei holy sites in the State was also distributed among members of the public at Royal Palace Imphal. “Ougri Hangen Chongba”, a dance among all the communities residing in Manipur, was also performed at different places of Manipur.