Melbourne: The small but tight-knit Manipuri community in Australia celebrated Cheiraoba or the Lunar New Year with as much pomp and gaiety as the people back home in India did. The festival falls on the same day as Bihu, which marks the Assamese New Year, and was celebrated by the Meitei people of Manipur on April 14 this year.
Surkeinya Nongmaithem, a native of Manipur based in Melbourne, hosted a lunch for around 30 people, comprising both Manipuri people and others, to celebrate the occasion. Married to a Malayali, Nongmaithem performed both Vishu (celebrated by the people of Kerala to mark the Hindu New Year) and Cheiraoba pujas.
Indira Laisram, a Manipuri journalist based in Melbourne, who got to be a part of the celebration, said, “We had it formally big for the first time last year as we realised we were increasing in numbers.”
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