Sajibu nongma panba

"Sajibu Nongma Pānba" also called "Meetei Cheiraoba" is the lunar new year festival of the people who follows the sanamahism religion of the Indian state of Manipur.^[1] The name Sajibu Nongma Pānba derives from the Manipuri words: Sajibu - the first month of the Hindu lunar calendar, Nongma - first date of a Month, Pānba - to be. Literally, it means the first day of the month of Sajibu. As it follows the Hindu lunar calendar, the lunar new year is celebrated on the same day as in Karnataka, Andhra pradesh, Maharasthra and many other Indian states.^[2]

Observance of the festival

First Offering ritual: The Meetei people celebrates the festival with great fanfare; gatherings of the extended family and a sumptuous feast for lunch are 'de rigueur'. The day, begins with ritual offerings of fruits, vegetables, rice and other uncooked food items to the Meitei deity Lainingthou Sanamahi during the early morning of the festival.

The preparation of the feast: After getting blessings from Lainingthou Sanamahi, an even number of dishes are prepared using the offerings. Traditionally, the males of the house makes the dishes, with the females helping in chopping and washing the ingredients.

Second Offering ritual: After the dishes for the feast are made, they are ritually offered at two different traditional locations around the house: one at the front gate of the house and the other at the rear gate of the house. These locations are specially cleansed and sanctified before the offering by cleaning an area (around 2x2 feet) and decorating it with mud, flowers and leaves. Traditionally, the eldest son of the house will make the offering to these three deities - Kumsana Kumliklai (Lord of the golden year), Lamsenba Tusenba (Guardian of the Land) and Lammaba Tumaba (Lord of the land) at this sanctified area.^[3] The offering traditionally includes: an odd number (chang taaba) of dishes surrounding a small mound of steamed rice, a token currency, fruits, flowers, a candle, and an incense stick, all of them placed upon a plantain leaf. This ritual is performed in the late morning.

Feast: After this ritual, the dishes prepared for the feast are exchange with relatives/neighbours and this custom is called "Mathel Laanba" after which the feast will start. It is believed that on the day of new year anything that happens on that day will happen for the rest of the year i.e. if you are happy and healthy on that day, you will be happy and healthy for the rest of the year.

Ching Kāba: Hillock Climbing: After the feast, it is tradition that family members climb a small hillock specially prepared by the community near the locality to pay homage to the hill deity, signifying the elevation of the spirit to reach the divine. The "Chin-nga" at Singjamei and "Cheirao Ching" at Chingmeirong are such hillocks that are specially prepared for these hillock climbing ritual. Toy shops, eateries, and other varied small shops will line the road to the hillock on that day to attract the ritual climbers to buy their items. The Ching Kāba is usually done during the afternoon to early evening, before the sun sets.

Traditional activities performed prior to the festival

Spring cleaning activities will be seen in all the families of the Meitei people prior to the festival. They will clean all things, including clothes, utensils, all household items, unused items around the house, etc. It is also traditional to buy new clothes to wear on the new year.

It is also traditional that a married woman should present a gift, usually a piece of cloth, to her father and brothers prior to the day of the festival.

References