The beauty of Cheiraoba
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: March 31, 2014 -

Sajibu Nongma Panba Cheiraoba Chak Katpa at Imphal on April 11 2013 :: Pix - Hueiyen Lanpao

Following the natural course of the unceasing cycle of life, Sajibu Nongma Panba Cheiraoba, the New Year of the Meeteis and other believers of Lainingthou Sanamahi-Ima Leimarel Sidabi settling inside as well as outside Manipur, is here once again, with the old year parting way for a new year - a new hope and an opportunity for a fresh beginning.

For the Meetei people, the first day of Sajibu in the lunar calendar which corresponds to March-April period in the Gregorian calendar and its celebration as Cheiraoba holds a special place in their heart not just for its religious significance and the associated rites and rituals but also for the underlining meaning behind celebrating the festival, which is celebration of life itself.

Even if the exact origin of the celebration has been shrouded in history, it is said that in the olden days, the reigning king used to proclaim parting of the old year and arrival of a new year on Cheiraoba day at the Royal Palace and the message was subsequently relayed to the rest of the people in the kingdom by the respective Leikai Lakpas who went around on horseback carrying a long stick with a bell attached to its tip giggling all the away.

Hence, the name Cheiraoba (Chei, meaning stick and Roaba or Laoba, meaning proclamation) was derived. Later on, during the reign of King Kyamba in 15th century, a new system was said to have been introduced wherein on every Cheiraoba day, a new Cheithaba, who would take over the risk of all the misfortunes that might befall the kingdom during a particular year, was appointed as the custodian of the year.

But the mode of celebrating Sajibu Nongma Panba Cheiraoba has remained more or less unchanged and its intrinsic value intact.

Days ahead of the festival, family members start cleaning and decorating their houses and women of the house prepare Athenpot of the best available seasonal vegetables, rice, fruits and flowers for offering to Lainingthou Sanamahi and Ima Leimarel Shidabi, who are worshipped in every household.

Special festive dishes are prepared from the vegetables and rice that were offered to the household deities and before partaking in a grand feast, some portion of the cooked foods were offered by an elder of the family at the gate of the house for the three deities namely Iram Maba Tumaba, Iram Senba Tusenba and Kumsana Puriklai as well as for the spirits like Hanu-Kokchao and Hanu Leikham for the protection of the family from possible misfortunes in the days to come.

At the Phunga-Lairu, the fire place of the house, Goddess Emoinu is worshipped with similar offerings for the prosperity and well-being of the family.

Another interesting character of the celebration is the sharing of the food and other delicacies prepared with neighbours and relatives, thus, reinforcing mutual love and respect for each other.

And, after the grand feast, all the people climb the nearby hill-tops (normally referred to as Cheiraoching) to enable them to rise to greater heights in this worldly life.

That is the beauty of Cheiraoba and its message for peace and unity within as well as with the world around us for the continuity of cycle of life.

On these good tidings of strengthen the bond of unity in the family, neighbourhood and community, we wish all our esteemed readers and patrons, a very Happy Sajibu Nongma Panba Cheiraoba.