Happy Manipuri New Year (Cheiraoba) ..!!
This is a very auspicious occasion for the Manipuri. This year I celebrated with my dear friend Susie and Aanchal in Abu Dhabi. On this day we prepared many dishes mostly vegetarian but because we were three so we decided to cook five dishes only. We cooked the famous dish of Manipur called Ooti which is the yellow peas curry, Vegetables fried with cabbages, mushroom, peas, tomatoes, potatoes, Eromba also a very popular manipuri dish, papad, salad. We enjoyed cooking the dishes together. After the dishes were prepared,we had a little photo shoot with our Manipuri Traditional Attire. Once the photos were taken, we had the great HAPPY feast.
Later in the evening we went to the mall and did little shopping. Thats how we spend this day..!!
I would like to share what we do in Manipur.In Manipur a week before this day, we do spring cleaning activities like clean everything in the house. It is a tradition to buy new cloths to wear on the new year.
Traditionally on the day, it is the males of the house cooking the dishes with female helping in chopping, washing the ingredients. I remember my dad used to cook always. He was indeed a great cook. After the dishes are made, there is ritually offering at the front gate of the house, decorating with flowers and leaves, the eldest son of the house will make the offering -to the lord of the golden year, the lord of land.
After the ritual, the dishes are exchanged with relatives and neighbours and this custom is called Manthel Laanba. Right after this the big feast start with the family members.
It is said that on this day if you are happy and healthy, it means this year would be happy and healthy for the rest of the year.
After the lunch,it is the tradition the married women should present a gift to her father and brother. Prior to the day of the festival we climb up the mountains. It is said that in order to have a successful year, It is important to climb up to the mountain also to pay homage to the hill deity.
In the evening there is entertainment like thabal chongbal in many localities which is manipuri traditional dance where the young boys and girls holds hand and dance to the rhythm of the drum beats or Leela which is a live drama performance. This is how it is celebrated in Manipur.
Here are the pictures. First one, I took of my friend Susie. Second is me of course,third is the dishes we prepared as I mentioned in the beginning.
Later in the evening we went to the mall and did little shopping. Thats how we spend this day..!!
I would like to share what we do in Manipur.In Manipur a week before this day, we do spring cleaning activities like clean everything in the house. It is a tradition to buy new cloths to wear on the new year.
Traditionally on the day, it is the males of the house cooking the dishes with female helping in chopping, washing the ingredients. I remember my dad used to cook always. He was indeed a great cook. After the dishes are made, there is ritually offering at the front gate of the house, decorating with flowers and leaves, the eldest son of the house will make the offering -to the lord of the golden year, the lord of land.
After the ritual, the dishes are exchanged with relatives and neighbours and this custom is called Manthel Laanba. Right after this the big feast start with the family members.
It is said that on this day if you are happy and healthy, it means this year would be happy and healthy for the rest of the year.
After the lunch,it is the tradition the married women should present a gift to her father and brother. Prior to the day of the festival we climb up the mountains. It is said that in order to have a successful year, It is important to climb up to the mountain also to pay homage to the hill deity.
In the evening there is entertainment like thabal chongbal in many localities which is manipuri traditional dance where the young boys and girls holds hand and dance to the rhythm of the drum beats or Leela which is a live drama performance. This is how it is celebrated in Manipur.
Here are the pictures. First one, I took of my friend Susie. Second is me of course,third is the dishes we prepared as I mentioned in the beginning.
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