CHEIRAOBA
The Cheiraoba festival is observed in April.
The Cheiraoba festival commences the New Year in Manipur.
The basis of the Cheiraoba festival of the people of Manipur is the lunar calendar. So, they count the 12 months of the year from the festival day of Cheiraoba in April.
The Cheiraoba festival is also the harbinger of the Spring season in the state.
The Cheiraoba festival provides the peasants of this agrarian north-eastern state of Manipur to get ready for the ensuing agricultural season.
The Cheiraoba festival is further an indication of the immanent monsoon winds that are life-saving agents for the majority of the people of Manipur. The monsoon winds bring rains which forms the very basis of agriculture for the people of Manipur.
The entire state of Manipur, irrespective of age, caste, creed, religion or community takes part in the agricultural festival of Cheiraoba.
In fact, the Cheiraoba festival is a reflection of unity in diversity of the people of Manipur.