No bus left Chattogram city for Cox’s Bazar, Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari, while none came to Chattogram either
Sangrai festival spreads wave of festivity in the hills
The traditional Jal Khela (water spraying sports) during the Sangrai festival arranged by the indigenous Marma community ended here Friday with a call to flourish education, culture and tradition of the community in the hill tracts.
Published : 14 April 2005, 12:00 PM
Updated : 14 April 2005, 12:00 PM
Advisory: with photo
Rangamati, April 15 (BDNEWS) – The traditional Jal Khela (water spraying sports) during the Sangrai festival arranged by the indigenous Marma community ended here Friday with a call to flourish education, culture and tradition of the community in the hill tracts.
Marma Sangskritik Sangsad (MSS) organised the festival at the Dur Pahar Chitmaram Buddha Bihar premises at Kaptai of Rangamati district.
Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs minister Moni Swapan Dewan was present as chief guest at the festival chaired by MSS president Angshusyne Chowdhury.
Among others, Chitmaram union chairman Thoaiching Marma, Chahapru Chowdhury and Ushaha Roaza, member of the Rangamati district council spoke on the occasion.
On the occasion of Chaitra Sangkranti, Marma young boys and girls offer love to each other at the Jal Khela Festival of Sangrai.
The tribal people of the Chittagong Hill Tracts celebrate "Baisabi" every year, which the Marma tribes call "Sangrai".
The festival is considered as the greatest time socially and religiously. It is a festival to say goodbye to the old year and welcome the Bangla New Year.
The Sangrai spans from the last two days of the month of Chaitra to the first day of the month of Bainshakh. This festival shows the rich cultural tradition, unity, and fraternity of the different ethnic groups of the region.
Thirteen small ethnic groups take fresh vows in the festival to build a peaceful world. Each tribe celebrates in the same way, but difference lies only in the name. The Chakma tribe calls it "Biju"; the Tripura calls it "Baisu"; and the Marma call is "Sangrai".
The festivals consist of sports, dances, songs and cultural functions. The hill people go to a Buddhist temple, river or canal to pray to the Lord Buddha for future peace and prosperity.
They light candles and decorate houses. They, also adorn the heads of cattle with flowers in the afternoon for celestial blessings. The games they play are "Gudu Hara", "Nadeng Hara", "Gila Hara" (a game with wild fruit), and "Dari Tanatani Hara" (played with rope).
BDNEWS/1957 hrs
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