FOOD, FAITH, AND FESTIVITY: A CROSS-CULTURAL COMPARISON OF MEITEI CHEIRAOBA AND CHAKMA BIZU CELEBRATIONS

Kshetrimayum Premchandra; Satabdi Chakma

doi:10.29121/shodhgyan.v3.i2.2025.69

Authors

Kshetrimayum Premchandra Assistant Professor, Department of English, Tripura University, Suryamaninagar – 799022, India
Satabdi Chakma Research Scholar, Department of English, Tripura University, Suryamaninagar – 799022, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29121/shodhgyan.v3.i2.2025.69

Keywords:

Meitei, Chakma, Cheiraoba, Bizu, Culinary Practices, Ritual, Festival

Abstract [English]

This paper explores the intricate interplay of food, festivities, and faith in the New Year celebrations of the Meitei community of Manipur and the Chakma community of Tripura in the northeast region of India. The Meiteis observe their New Year on the first day of the lunar month of Sajibu (March–April), while the Chakmas celebrate Bizu from 13 to 15 April annually. This study foregrounds the culinary traditions of both communities, situating food as a central element of ritual and identity. Through an examination of traditional food preparation, ritual offerings, and associated festivities, the paper illustrates how these practices serve as vehicles for intergenerational knowledge transmission and cultural continuity. The use of indigenous ingredients, deeply embedded in local ecologies, reflects sustainable dietary habits and health-conscious living. The analysis reveals that these festive cuisines are not merely about sustenance but embody symbolic meanings, reinforce community ties, and reaffirm the shared relationship between people, land, and tradition. Ultimately, the paper contends that the New Year foodways of the Meiteis and Chakmas are critical expressions of heritage, collective memory, and community harmony.

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