Cheiraoba, the Manipuri New Year, is a significant festival celebrated primarily in Manipur, India, and among the Manipuri diaspora. In 2026, this vibrant festival will take place on April 14. Cheiraoba symbolizes renewal and prosperity, marking the start of the lunar New Year and the arrival of the spring harvest season. The celebrations begin with traditional house cleaning, symbolizing the removal of past negativities, and participants wear new clothes to signify new beginnings. Families engage in prayers and rituals at home and in temples, offering thanks to deities for past blessings and seeking prosperity for the year ahead. Unique rituals, such as the “Shifting of the Paat,” involve elders passing blessings to younger generations. The festival fosters unity, bringing together families and communities in joyous celebrations filled with cultural programs, music, and feasting. Cheiraoba's timing in April aligns with the agricultural cycle, emphasizing gratitude for previous crops and hopes for a bountiful harvest in the future.