Mangaluru, (The Hindu): Students from Manipur celebrated Sajibu Cheiraoba, the traditional festival of Manipur welcoming the New Year, at the Alva’s Educational Foundation, Moodbidri, on Sunday.

Inaugurating the festival, Manipur Education Minister and retired IPS Officer Thokchom Radheshyam said, “Manipur is an isolated land from the main land; yet it has a rich heritage and culture. Education system in Manipur didn’t evolve much as compared to other parts of the country. Hence, educated Manipuris should come back and bring new ray of hope in the system,” according to a release here.

Presiding over the program, Foundation Trustee Vivek Alva said, “Our foundation always strives to make real integration between the northeast and the mainland. We started with a couple of students a few years ago and today we have many from the northeast carving their skills in different streams.”

Sajibu Cheiraoba festival is the celebration of New Year festival in Manipur. The formal function was followed by cultural shows like Dhol Cholom, Stick dance, group songs, and special attraction Dollu Kunitha by Manipuri students.

The festival was followed by Manipuri food, including utthi, chicken curry, champhut, kanghou, fish curry, eromba, singju etc, cooked by students themselves. After meals, students climbed nearby hills in the afternoon to offer prayers.