The Rakhaine community in Cox’s Bazar has been celebrating its traditional three-day “Sangrain Poye” or water festival, marking the New Year with joy, colour and cultural festivities across the district.
The celebrations, which began on Thursday night with the start of 1388 Rakhaine year according to Rakhaine calendar (Moghisun), concluded in Cox’s Bazar town on Sunday.
However, the festival will continue until Monday in several other upazilas, including Chaufaldandi, Teknaf, Chakaria and Maheshkhali.
To welcome the New Year, around 40 decorated mandaps (festival pavilions) were set up in Rakhaine neighbourhoods of Cox’s Bazar town and surrounding areas.
Rakhaine youths and young women gathered at these venues, joyfully participating in the traditional water-splashing ritual.
Using drums filled with clean water, participants splashed water on each other as part of a cultural practice symbolising purification and renewal.
The mandaps were decorated with flowers and colourful papers, with young men and women standing on opposite sides, dancing to the rhythm of traditional music and celebrating together.
Rakhaine belief holds that the sacred water festival washes away the misfortunes, negativity and shortcomings of the past year, bringing blessings for the new year.
The festival was held in several areas of Cox’s Bazar town, including Kangpara, Chowlabazar, Hangarpara, Tekpara and Burmese School Road, as well as in more than 50 villages across Maheshkhali, Teknaf, Chakaria and Ramu.
Mongchhen Hla Rakhaine, president of the central committee of Bangladesh Rakhaine Buddhist Welfare Association and director of Cox’s Bazar Cultural Centre, said the water festival is an important occasion that promotes harmony and happiness in the new year.
He added that people from all religions join the celebrations alongside the Rakhaine community.
Cox’s Bazar District Police spokesperson and Additional Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Debdut Majumder said security measures have been strengthened to ensure the peaceful and orderly conduct of the festival.
Local Rakhaine community members said the celebrations will continue in some upazilas until Monday.
SU/SH
