President leads in Sajibu greetings
Source: The Sangai Express and MIC

Delhi/Imphal, April 06: For the first time, Rashtrapati Bhawan has recognized the Sajibu Cheiraoba festival, the Manipuri new year to be celebrated tomorrow.

Greeting the people of Manipur President of India, Pratibha Devisingh Patil in her message on the occasion of Vikram Samvatsar, Chaitra Sukladi, Gudi Padava, Ugadi, Cheti Chand, Navreh and Sajibu Cheiraoba said, "On the auspicious occasion of Vikram Samvatsar, Chaitra Sukladi, Gudi Padava, Ugadi, Cheti Chand, Navreh and Sajibu Cheiraoba, I extend my greetings and good wishes to all my fellow citizens.

May these festivals bring happiness, prosperity and well-being to you all.

These festivals are celebrated as the New Year in many parts of our country.

A rally organised by the Meitei Inat Yokhat Lup, Nambol being staged ahead of Sajibu

May the celebrations of these joyous festivals promote the values of tolerance and acceptance and strengthen traditional bonds of amity, understanding and harmony".

Acknowledging the President's greeting, Seram Rojesh, former President of Manipur Students' Association Delhi today expressed gratitude to the first woman President of India for her new year greetings to the people of Manipur.

"She knows our culture and astrological system which we are proud of ", he added.

RK Brajachand, President of the Manipur Diaspora Association, Delhi also expressed his gratitude to Pratibha Devisingh Patil and said, "It is a recognition from the President of India on the culturally rich Manipuri people".

Governor Dr SS Sidhu and Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh also joined other organisations and individuals in conveying hearty greetings to the people of Manipur.

In his message to the people, Dr Sidhu conveyed sincere wish that arrival of the New Year will herald an era of peace, prosperity and progress 'in this trouble torned State'.

"I hope that with the advent of another New Year, we shall be able to muster renewed strength and confidence, to ensure that our State can become an oasis of peace and that the bond of friendship, brotherhood and fruitful co-existence amongst all sections of the society irrespective of caste, creed, language and religion are strengthened," the Governor added in his message.

The chief Minister in his message expressed that parting of the old and year and onset of a new one will usher in peace and prosperity to all the people of the State.

"Let us all on this auspicious occasion resolve our differences, come together and work unitedly for a prosperous and modern Manipur," the CM said.

Lt Gen MS Dadwal, GOC, 3 Corps and Maj Gen TS Handa GOC of 57 Mountain Division have also extended their greetings to the people, said (PIB) Defence Wing in a statement issued to the press today.

IGAR (S) maj Gen BK Chengapa and all ranks of the Assam rifles have also extended their 'very warm and sincere' goodwill to all the Manipuris on the auspicious occasion of Shajibu Nongma Panba Cheiraoba, conveyed a release of PRO IGAR (S).

goodwill to all the Manipuris on the auspicious occasion of Shajibu Nongma Panba Cheiraoba, conveyed a release of PRO IGAR (S).

The Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee, MP Dr T Meinya, Nationalist Congress Party Manipur Pradesh, All manipur Anti Drug Association and Laiyingthou Sanamahi Thoubal Kanglup also conveyed Cheiraoba wishes.