Cheiraoba (Manipuri New Year)

Cheiraoba, also known as Sajibu Cheiraoba, is the traditional New Year festival of the Meitei community in Manipur. It falls on the first day of the Sajibu month (April) in the Manipuri calendar. The festival marks the beginning of a new year and is celebrated with great enthusiasm and religious fervor.

The word "Cheira" means "stick" or "pole" and "Oba" means "throwing" or "offering," which relates to one of the traditional practices of the festival where people climb nearby hills and throw sticks or poles.

Cheiraoba has been celebrated in Manipur for centuries as part of the ancient Meitei tradition. The festival is deeply rooted in the cultural and religious practices of the Meitei people, who follow Sanamahism (the traditional Meitei religion) and Hinduism.

The festival combines elements of pre-Hindu Meitei traditions with Hindu practices that were adopted after the 18th century when Hinduism became prevalent in Manipur. It represents the harmonious blending of different religious and cultural influences that characterize Manipuri society.

Cheiraoba celebrations involve several distinct rituals and activities:

• House Cleaning: Before the festival, homes are thoroughly cleaned and decorated to welcome the new year.
• Special Feast: Families prepare an elaborate feast with various traditional dishes. The meal typically includes rice, vegetables, fish, and meat dishes.
• Offering to Deities: Food offerings are made to household and community deities, seeking their blessings for prosperity and good health in the coming year.
• Hill Climbing: After the feast, people climb nearby hills or high places. This practice symbolizes ascending to greater heights in life during the coming year. At the hilltop, they throw sticks or poles in different directions, symbolically casting away evil spirits and negative energies.
• Family Gatherings: The festival is a time for family reunions, with relatives coming together to celebrate and strengthen family bonds.
• Traditional Games: Various traditional games and sports are played as part of the celebrations.

Cheiraoba is known for its special feast, which includes a variety of traditional Manipuri dishes:

• Chamthong: A vegetable stew that is a staple in Manipuri cuisine.
• Eromba: A dish made with boiled vegetables, fermented fish, and chili.
• Ooti: A dish made with peas and other vegetables.
• Kangshoi: A light soup made with seasonal vegetables.
• Fish dishes: Various preparations of fish, which is an important part of Manipuri cuisine.
• Chagem Pomba: A special rice preparation.
• Paknam: Fish cake wrapped in banana leaves.

These dishes are arranged in a specific order and served on banana leaves or traditional plates made of bell metal.