Sajibu Cheiraoba: One occasion, two narratives

Hareshwar Goshwami (Writer and Politician)
Contd from previous issue
He continues by saying that rites associated with Saroi Khangba, Lai Khundil Lalup, and Shingtek-Shingthaba are all somehow tied to time keeping. The counting of the little twigs (shings) that stand in for the days in the Lai Khundil Lalup ceremony, connected to the number of days (numit), is a necessary component of the ritual. A year is deemed to have ended after there are 365 shings (little twigs). The ritual Lai Khundil Lalup is performed every year in the last Saturday of the month of Lamta which he considers to be the last month. From this it can be assumed that the month Sajibu preceded by the month Lamta as the first month of the Meitei calendar year. This proposition opens up one question that on which day of Sajibu, the Meitei new year is to be celebrated ? Generally, the first day of Sajibu is to be taken as the new year. But to him (Takhellambam Bokul) the first day of Sajibu does not have the complete 365 days. This could be one of the reasons why Keisham Ibomcha in the chart included in his book Kum Houba gives 13/14 April (in the month of Sajibu) as new year celebrated by Apokpa Marup, Meetei Marup and Meitei Hindus in Manipur.
Sajibu Cheiraoba of the Meitei Hindus
The Meitei Hindus of Manipur and other parts of the world celebrate the new year, or Sajibu Cheiraoba, every year around the middle of April when the sun enters the house of Aries, or Mesha Rashi. This day is also referred to as Mesha Sankranti, which marks the sun's transition into the house of Aries. Every year, the date normally falls on April 13 or 14, and according to many local and regional calendars, it marks the beginning of the first month. It is thought that Raja Rishi Bheigyachandra (Chingthang-khomba), who ruled Manipur in 1760 AD (1682 Sakabda), introduced the Sajibu Cheiraoba practiced by the Meitei Hindus. He is also an exponent of another Manipuri cheichatlon (calendar) Chandrabda. “Hiyangeitha 12 nisagolsenda Maharaj Jaisinghga Bhagabati Thakurga Kabo Khumpong-mayumcha Maniram Singh Sidanandaga (Sidhantaga) mapumanaiahum mana tannaduna Meitei Kang-leipakki sakamalingkhattuna Panjithok-a.”  (Khelchan-dra-Ibungohal, Cheitharol Kumbabaiii, 2005:123).
In the 'new order' Meiteis developed into masters of astrology. Thanks to their ancient understanding of the archaic Meitei scriptures and Vedic Shastra, which peaked during the reign of Raja Rishi Bheigyachandra (1759-1761, 1763-1798). Without a doubt, the Meiteis were well-versed in astrology even before Raja Rishi Bheigyachandra came to power. It is clear from the fact that the renowned Kaughmadaw (Kumudaw) Pagoda's foundation stone in Myanmar was put on the day and hour specified by a Manipuri Brahman by the name of Jibananda Thakur. (Khelchandra, Ariba Manipuri Sahityagi Itihas, 1992: 218). Here it may be pertinent to state that it was largely due to the efforts made by Khumbong Maniram Singh Sidhanta, Bhagyabati Thakur, Tai-bangjam Shridam, Chirom Shyamram, Oinam Anand-ram, Yendremba Gangaram, and Achoiba Samram that a new calendar for Manipur called Chandrabda was introduced. According to some academics, the same year Shajibu Cheiraoba that falls on April 13/14 and followed by Meitei Hindus was also initiated. Thus, Bheigya- chandra Maharaja could very well be one of the exponents of Sajibu Cheiraoba that falls on April 13 or 14 based on Solar calendar of the Luni-Solar structure.
The name Sajibu Cheiraoba (new year in the month of Sajibu), the first month of Manipuri calendar is adopted from the traditional Meitei appellation Cheiraoba. According to some academics, the celebration's date was taken directly from the Bengali calendar. However, Sajibu Cheiraoba, as practiced by Meitei Hindus, may have been created and popularized by Raja Rishi Bhei- gyachandra, as previously stated. (To be contd)