Imphal, March 26 2009: The President of India Smt Pratibha Devisingh Patil has extended the greetings to all the Manipuri communities on the occasion of Sajibu Cheiraoba Festival being celebrated tomorrow.

The Rashtrapati Bhawan, for the first time recognized the Sajibu Cheiraoba festival, the Manipuri New Year festival last year.

In her message on the occasion of Chaitra Sukladi, Ugadi, Gudi Padava, Chetti Chand, Navreh and Sajibu Cheiraoba which shall be celebrated tomorrow, Smt Pratibha Devisingh Patil said: "On the occasion of Chaitra Sukladi, Ugadi, Gudi Padava, Chetti Chand, Navreh and Sajibu Cheiraoba, I extend my greetings and good wishes to my fellow citizens.

Celebrated in a wide variety of ways in different parts of our country, these festivals reflect our diversity and yet underline the unity of the nation.

May these festivals reinforce the common bond of togetherness of our people and ensure progress, prosperity and peace".

Cheiraoba is the New Year festival of Manipur.

It is celebrated on the first day of the Manipuri month Sajibu (March/April).

It is also a sacred and socio-religious festival of Manipuri people.

On the day of festival, people clean and decorate their houses.

They wear new clothes.

The best seasonal vegetables and fruits are offered to the domestic deities namely, Lainingthou Sanamahi and Ima Leimarel Shidabi, which are worshipped in each house.

Special festive dishes are then prepared from the vegetables having offered to the deities, for a grand feast for the family.

After the preparation, the foods are offered at the gate of every household to the Almighty Gods and then all the family members together will have the feast.

The married women give their parents and brothers gifts on the occasion.

The youths seek the blessings of the elders of the family.

After the feast, people will climb the nearest hill-top in the belief that it will enable them to rise to greater heights in the worldly life.

People will exchange greetings and new ideas.

On every Cheiraoba, a new Cheithaba is selected.

The Cheithaba is the one who records the major events in the Cheitharol Kumbaba (Royal Chronicle).

The uninterrupted line of Cheithaba since the reign of the 15th century king Kyamba are found recorded in the Cheitharol Kumbaba.

The major events since 33 AD are recorded in the Cheitharol Kumbaba under royal patronage.

Meanwhile, greeting the people of Manipur on the occasion of Sajibu Nongma Panba - Manipuri New Year (Cheiraoba) - Manipur Governor, Gurbachan Jagat said that at the advent of another New Year, the people should resolve to march forward, correcting the mistakes of the past, and keeping the focus on where we want to see Manipur in future.

"I am confident that the New Year will bring peace, prosperity and happiness to all people of the State and Manipur will soon be among the leading States of the country," stated the Governor in his greeting message.

Joining the people of Manipur in celebrating the festival and conveying his wish that the New Year will herald an era of peace, prosperity and progress for all, the Chief Minister, O Ibobi, in his greeting message, said that Sajibu Nongma Panba marks the end of the previous year and the onset of the New Year while hoping that the people are able to muster renewed strength and confidence to ensure that the state becomes an oasis of peace and that the bonds of friendship, brotherhood and co-existence amongst all sections of the society irrespective of caste, creed, language and religion are strengthened.

In his greeting message, the titular King of Manipur, Leishemba Sanajaoba prays that may the coming year bring in the strength to bear the agonies and may the new year brings in peace and prosperity to the people, according to a greeting message of the titular king, Leishemba Sanajaoba.

The King also expressed his pleasance to the people of the state for their efforts to protect and preserve the indigenous beliefs of the land on the occasion.

At the same time, the GOC 3 Corps, Lt General RK Loomba, AVSM and GOC 57 Mountain Division, Maj Gen Shakti Gurung, VSM and all ranks of the 57 Mountain Division extended their warm greetings to the people of Manipur on the occasion of Sajibu Nongma Panba (Cheiraoba).

"May this festival bring peace, joy and prosperity to the people of Manipur," a greeting message of the PIB (DW) wishes. The MPCC and MPP have also extended their Cheiraoba wish to the people of the state.

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