ADVERTISEMENTs
Sajibu Cheiraoba: Manipur's New Year Celebration
-
1744662449.png)
Rajshree Keisham - Mon, 14, Apr 2025
- 16:24 EDT
- 109
.png)
Fresh rice, vegetables, fruits, flower offering to household diety. / Courtesy Rajshree Keisham
As dawn breaks over Manipur in northeastern India, families rise early, their homes already fragrant with the sweet scent of seasonal flowers and the earthy aroma of traditional dishes simmering on wood fires. Children in colorful new clothes dash excitedly through freshly cleaned homes while elders prepare traditional dishes and sacred offerings. It's Sajibu Cheiraoba, the Meitei New Year—a day when an entire community pauses to welcome renewal, prosperity, togetherness, and hope for the year ahead.
Sajibu Cheiraoba falls on the first day of Sajibu month in the traditional Meitei lunar calendar, typically in late March or early April. The festival's roots trace back to the reign of the ancient period in Manipur with the introduction of the Meitei calendar. The name itself—"Cheiraoba"—derives from "chei" (stick) and "laoba" (declaration), referring to the bell-topped staff once carried through villages to announce the New Year.
This post is for paying subscribers only
SUBSCRIBE NOWADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
E Paper
ADVERTISEMENT
.jpg)
Video
.png)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.JPG)
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login