Cheiraoba: the New Year festival of Manipur

Manipur is a land of celebrations, festivities and mirth's all the year round. A year in Manipur presents a cycle of festivals. Hardly a month passes without a festival or two. Cheiraoba is the New Year festival of Manipur. It is celebrated on the first day of the month Sajibu (March). To the manipuris, festivals are the symbols of their cultural, social and religious aspirations which, besides removing the monotony of life by providing physical diversions, mental recreation and emotional outlet help them lead a better and fuller life. It is celebrated during the month of April.

This festival is also related with the Chahitaba. The domestic deity, Sanamahi, is worshipped in each house. An annual festival is also arranged in the temple of Sanamahi. People wear new clothes and buy new utensils. On this day the 'Chahitaba' is also selected. The chahitaba is the man who gives his name to the year, who bears all the sins of the people for the year of the whole luck, good or ill, influences the lick of the whole community. Chahitaba is nominated by Maibas after comparing the horoscope. Many people on this day also climb the hill called 'Cheiraching' where there is a small Siva shrine. The hill is near Imphal town. People clean and decorate their houses and prepare special festive dishes, which are first offered to various deities. Villagers climb nearby hilltops in the belief that it will enable them to rise to heights in their worldly life. During the festival, people clean and decorate their houses and prepare special festive dishes which are first offered to various deities. Celebrated during the month of April, a part of the ritual entails villagers climbing the nearest hill tops in belief that it will enable them to rise to greater heights in their worldly life. The Pangals (Manipuri Muslims) also observe it.


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