The traditional festival of Sajibu Nongma Panba Cheiraoba was celebrated in Manipur on Sunday to mark the beginning of a new year with religious fervour and gaiety.
The festival heralds the advent of New Year and strengthens the bond of love and brother hood among the members of each family.
The festival is mainly observed on the first lunar day of the lunar month Sajibu (March/April) by the Meitei community, a majority ethnic group of Manipur.
On this day, people arrange a joint family feast in which traditional cuisines are offered to local deities at the entrance gates of the houses.
After meals, people start climb the Cheiraoching located in Chingmeirong or tops of nearby hills in the afternoon to offer prayers. As per belief they think that it would elevate them to greater heights in their worldly life.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and DoNER minister Jitendra Singh conveyed their greetings to the people of Manipur on the occasion of Sajibu Cheiraoba.
“Sajibu Cheiraoba greetings to the people of Manipur. May the coming year bring peace and prosperity in everyone’s lives,” PM tweeted.
“To the people of #Manipur , on behalf of all of us and on behallf of @MDoNER_India ,warmest greetings and best wishes on the auspicious occasion of Sajibu Nongma Panba Cheiraoba, the advent of the New Year,” DoNER minister Jitendra Singh tweeted.
Extending his ‘warmest greetings and best wishes’ to the people of the State on the auspicious occasion of Sajibu Nongma Panba Cheiraoba Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh said, “I join the people of Manipur in the celebration of Sajibu Nongma Panba Cheiraoba festival and hope and pray that the festival will bring joy, prosperity and peaceful coexistence among all the communities living in the state.”