Moodbidri: The traditional festival of Manipur, Sajibu Cheiraoba was celebrated by Manipuri students of Alva’s Education Foundation to mark the beginning of a new year with cultural avidity and religious zeal.

Being a special invitee in the celebration, Manipur education minister and retired IPS officer, Thokchom Radheshyam said, “Manipur is an isolated land from the main land yet it bears a rich heritage and culture. Education system in Manipur did not evolve much as compare to other parts of the country. So educated Manipuris should turn back their native land and bring new ray of hope in the system.” He further added, “Education only can shun all our problems. Education with purpose makes our life much better. We have to learn from our mistakes. Every part of our life is management. We should not dishearten by the failures, failures are just lessons.” He called upon students to be catalyst of positive change in the society.

Presiding over the programme, Alva’s Education Foundation trustee Vivek Alva said,”Our foundation always strives for making real integration between north east and this region in real sense. We started with couple of students and today we have larger avenue of north eastern pupils carving their skills in different streams.”

Sajibu Cheiraoba festival is the celebration of New Year festival in Manipur. This is a sacred festival of Manipur when all the people welcome the New Year grandly. The formal function was followed by cultural shows like Dhol Cholom, stick dance, group songs, and special attraction Dollu Kunitha by Manipuri students were performed.

Sumptuous food cooked by Manipuri students like Utthi, Chicken curry, champhut, kanghou, fish curry, eromba, singju were served in the feast. After meals, students climbed nearby hills in the afternoon to offer prayers.

RSS Koshadhyaksh Manuipur Prantya Gorakchandra Sharma, Poorvanchal Vikas Parishad coordinator Puspharaj, entrepreneurs Ashwath Hegde and Dr Edmond Fernandes were present among others.