Sajibu Cheiraoba 2019

Chennai Manipuri Forum (CMF) celebrated Cheiraoba or the Lunar New Year of 2019 on 21st April 2019, at the City Club, DLF Garden City, Semmencheri, Chennai. The name Shajibu Cheiraoba derives from the Manipuri words: Shajibu (the first month of the year which usually falls during the month of April according to Meitei lunar calendar), Chahi (year), and Laoba (declaration). It is traditionaly marked by a cleaning of the home and locality, followed by offerings to our ancestors, prayers for a prosperous year and closes with prayers and offering to the patriarchs of the family.

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The Manipuri diaspora in Chennai, though far from their native, got together for this event not just to mark the parting of the old year while welcoming the New Year but to bring the community closer and  to foster the spirit of unity and coexistence among the Manipuris in this coastal city of India. Since time immemorial, “Shajibu Cheiraoba” has been in the heart of every Manipuri and also has close connection with our lives and activities. Although, it is used to be a family prayer and worship of the deities to safeguard and bring peace and prosperity for their respective family members, it is fitting in today’s world, that Cheiraoba be celebrated as a community event, an occasion for the community to bond, work and prosper together.

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The event was attended by around 120 Manipuris, including students. Most members were meeting one another for the first time hence the morning was spent in getting to know one another through introductory sessions. Serving traditional Manipuri cuisine is as much an important part of the festivities as all the fun and gaiety, Hence, for this event in order to present the true flavour of Manipuri dishes, two traditional cooks (Bamons) were invited all the way from Manipur who made authentic Meitei dishes with ingredients which were flown in from Manipur. 

Tamo Warengsana, an elder of the community led the group in a religious offering to our Meitei ancestors to mark the occasion. The special lunch was served on the specially made banana-leave plates, which made everyone feel nostalgic for all such events held in their natives in the past. Other festivities such Karaoke Songs, Housie Games, and Thabal Chongba kept the members engaged through the day-long event.