Sangrai Festival begins in hills with vibrant rally
Sohel Kanti Nath, Bandarban
The traditional Sangrai Festival of the Marma community has begun in the hills with a vibrant rally.
The Marma community celebrates this Sangrai festival to mark the New Year. It is one of the main social and religious festivals of the Marmas.
On Sunday morning, the procession was officially inaugurated at the local Raja’s Field by the chief guest, District Administrator Shamima Ara Rini, who released balloons. Men, women, youths, and young women from various communities, including Chakma, Marma, Bom, Tripura, Tanchangya, Khyang, and others, participated in the procession, wearing traditional attire and carrying various placards and festoons. The procession, after circling the main roads of the town, concluded at the Cultural Institute of Ethnic Minorities.
Primarily, the Marma community celebrates the Sangrai festival every year to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new one. This time, too, the Marma festival will be celebrated over seven days with various events. Marma villages are buzzing with preparations for the festival. Events such as lighting thousands of lamps, a pitha (traditional cake) festival, folk fairs, and other activities are being organized.
Primarily, the Marma community celebrates the Sangrai festival every year to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new one. This time, too, the Marma festival will be celebrated over seven days with various events. Marma villages are buzzing with preparations for the festival. Events such as lighting thousands of lamps, a pitha (traditional cake) festival, folk fairs, and other activities are being organized.
Besides, the main attraction of Sangrai, the Maitri Water Splashing or Jal Keli (water festival), will take place. During the Jal Keli festival, people splash water on each other to wash away the sorrows and burdens of the old year. Alongside locals, domestic and foreign tourists flock to join the Marma’s Jal Keli festival. Meanwhile, with the participation of both hill people and Bengalis, the hilly district of Bandarban has transformed into a festive city for Sangrai.
On the other hand, young men and women expressed their joy at being able to participate in the rally wearing their community’s traditional attire.
Chanu Mong Marma, President of the Sangrai Festival Celebration Committee said, this year’s Sangrai festival has been organized to span seven days. The formalities of Sangrai began today with a vibrant procession. He further stated that in previous years, the water festival was held for one day, but this time, Jal Keli will take place over three days, and a four-day Sangrai fair will also be organized. Local artists will participate in the fair, enhancing its beauty with captivating cultural performances.
However, to ensure that the traditional Sangrai festival of the Marma community can be celebrated in a festive atmosphere, strict security measures have been put in place, according to Bandarban District Police Superintendent Shahidullah Kawser. He said that Sangrai is a traditional festival of the Marma community, but people from all communities and religions come together to share the joy of the festival. Especially during Sangrai, a large number of domestic and foreign tourists gather. Therefore, to ensure that everyone can enjoy the festival in a joyful environment and to prevent any untoward incidents, law enforcement personnel, both in uniform and plainclothes, will remain vigilant, along with intelligence surveillance.
In addition to Jal Keli, this year’s Sangrai festival will feature a four-day Sangrai fair. The week-long Sangrai festival of the Marma community will conclude on April 18.
On the other hand, young men and women expressed their joy at being able to participate in the rally wearing their community’s traditional attire.
Chanu Mong Marma, President of the Sangrai Festival Celebration Committee said, this year’s Sangrai festival has been organized to span seven days. The formalities of Sangrai began today with a vibrant procession. He further stated that in previous years, the water festival was held for one day, but this time, Jal Keli will take place over three days, and a four-day Sangrai fair will also be organized. Local artists will participate in the fair, enhancing its beauty with captivating cultural performances.
However, to ensure that the traditional Sangrai festival of the Marma community can be celebrated in a festive atmosphere, strict security measures have been put in place, according to Bandarban District Police Superintendent Shahidullah Kawser. He said that Sangrai is a traditional festival of the Marma community, but people from all communities and religions come together to share the joy of the festival. Especially during Sangrai, a large number of domestic and foreign tourists gather. Therefore, to ensure that everyone can enjoy the festival in a joyful environment and to prevent any untoward incidents, law enforcement personnel, both in uniform and plainclothes, will remain vigilant, along with intelligence surveillance.
In addition to Jal Keli, this year’s Sangrai festival will feature a four-day Sangrai fair. The week-long Sangrai festival of the Marma community will conclude on April 18.
