According to the Rakhine calendar, the year 1386 concluded on April 16, and the new year—1387 Rakhine Era—began on Thursday (April 17). 

 To mark the farewell of the old year and the welcome of the new, the Rakhine community in Cox’s Bazar has begun their traditional three-day water festival, known as "Sanggraing."

On Thursday afternoon, the Rakhine neighborhoods of Cox’s Bazar were alive with colors, lights, and joyful splashes of water. Pavilions decorated with colorful paper and flowers were filled with young men and women dressed in traditional attire, eagerly waiting to take part in the playful water fights. Accompanied by musical instruments, young men danced their way from one pavilion to another, sparking lively water-throwing festivities. When the young men playfully splashed water toward their beloveds, the young women responded with smiling faces and cheerful splashes of their own.

The Rakhine people believe this water to be "Mangal Jal" or “auspicious water”—a symbolic gesture to wash away the sorrows of the past year and welcome a pure and prosperous new one. As a result, not just the youth, but people of all ages take part in the celebration. People from other religions and communities also join in, turning the festival into a vibrant gathering of harmony and togetherness.

Rakhine women’s leader, Mahting Tin Rakhine, shared that the week-long Sanggraing festival began on April 14 with the ritual of bathing the Buddha statue using sandalwood-scented water. On the second day, religious customs such as processions and the observance of Panchashil (five precepts) were performed.

On April 16, children began the playful tradition by splashing water on one another—marking the start of the festivities. From April 17, the main three-day water festival officially kicked off, with celebrations taking place at 20 pavilions across the town. The festive spirit is equally alive in other areas of the district including Maheshkhali, Teknaf, Ramu, and Chowfaldandi.

Director of the Rakhine Cultural Center, Mongshenla Rakhine, said, “The water festival is a century-old tradition of ours. These three days flood the Rakhine neighborhoods with joy and unity.”

Monghla Mi Rakhine, General Secretary of the Aggmeda Kyang Management Committee, noted that alongside the water festivities, traditional foods are served, greetings are exchanged, and prayers for well-being are offered—adding further charm to the celebration.

Md. Jasim Uddin Chowdhury, Additional Superintendent of Police (Traffic) of Cox’s Bazar District Police, remarked, “This festival stands as a unique example of communal harmony in Cox’s Bazar. Uniformed and plainclothes police have been deployed at the event locations. We hope the celebrations conclude peacefully.”

The Rakhine water festival is not just a tradition of a single ethnic group—it is a reflection of Cox’s Bazar’s rich heritage, harmony, and culture. May the new year bring joy, unity, and prosperity for all.