Sangrai festival in Bangladesh

'Paanchowai' means the day of flowering. This is usually done on the night of April 12. With the arrival of spring after winter, the hills of Chittagong Hill Tracts also feel the touch of spring, as a result of which the hills can be seen with various flower arrangements. The hills surrounding the village swell with the smell of different colors and become monotonous. And since these flowers are reserved for Sangrai, they are not torn at all before, so that the flowers spread in the mountains are eye-catching.

Absolutely one night of "Paanchowai" is used for worshiping Buddha and decorating houses. Although there are many flowers in the mountains, certain flowers are used to decorate the houses. The most popular of these is the cloud-colored flower called "Sangrai Paing". Everyone mainly decorates their houses on the day after "Paanchhoai" with this flower as the main thing.[4]

Marma child with flowers

Sangrai Pang or Sangrai flower is a white mountain flower with compound inflorescence. It has a number of well-arranged inflorescences of about one to one and a half inches. In the hilly areas of Bangladesh such as Bandarban, Chittagong, these flowers can be seen spreading in the hills in spring.

Mountain Sangrai Pang flowers

Marma yuth with Sangrai pang flowers

The work of plucking this flower is mainly done by the Marma youth. On the night of 'Paanchowai', Marma youths organize various events around it. Many people stay up all night making cakes, while others arrange various traditional games for the Marmas. Some even arrange traditional Marma dances and songs. Basically, Marma youths use various tactics to stay awake all night. Then, after the arrival of the last night, that is, before dawn, they went to the mountains in groups and picked up 'Sangrai Paing' and handed it over to their mother. Ginnis decorate the flowers with needle and thread in the morning. First Lord Buddha is worshiped with flowers and every door of every house is decorated with them. With the flowers arranged on the door of the house, it can be understood that Sangrai i.e. the new year has started.[5]

Not only young people but also young Marma boys and girls are interested in this 'Paanchhoai'. However, taking them to the mountains is very risky, as the elders always prevent the little boys and girls from going to the mountains for fear of the 'Frujuma' (Marma witch). There are even a lot of stories about this "Paanchhoai". The most popular of these is the story of 'Frujuma's Trap'. The Fruzuma witch, in the lure of 'Sangrai Paing', takes one of the children away to a deep forest that will never be released before daybreak. Because after falling into the trap, wherever he goes, he will find only jungle and jungle.[6]

The main attraction of Sangrai is the water sport called Marmara "Ri Long Poye". This water sports festival is held on the last day of Sangrai festival.[7] Sangrai water sports are performed not only by the Marmas, but also by the Dai tribes of Southeast Asia, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and China in mid-April. In Myanmar, such events are called "Thingon" and in Thailand and Laos this ceremony is called "Sankran". "Sankran" in Thai means change. Sangrai actually means saying goodbye to the old year and welcoming the new year. At the same time, the new Jhum farming season in the Chittagong Hill Tracts begins after Sangrai. Not only Jhum farming, the Marmaras do not get married again after the Maghi full moon until Sangrai, which means that the Marmaras in Sangrai mean to start anew by throwing away all the old things, including the beginning of the new year. And so the Marmaras celebrate the New Year with a joyous ceremony in the hope of blessings and good wishes.[8]

After the main Sangrai, "Rilangpoye" is organized in different places. It is held not only on April 15, but also on April 16, 17 and 18 in many places so that everyone can participate in all the events. From the morning of the day of the ceremony, Marmaras from different parts of the country started attending the ceremony after their traditional 'Thami' (girls) and ' Lungi ' (boys). Very early in the morning, the local youth gather in Sangrai. Marma youths from far and wide sang ' Sangrai ma ninii nnai, rig jaing kai pai meh / meaning: Come on everyone, joined on Sangrai's Maitri Water Raining festival' and started participating in the program in groups.

The Marma Royaja (village head of the Marmas) then inaugurated the event. The official "Ri long Poye" started immediately after the ceremony. Water is kept in the open field by filling huge pots or boats. Then the Marma youths stand face to face in groups and throw water at each other until the water container or the boat in front of them becomes waterless. In this way, one group after another started playing the game of throwing water.

In this way, apart from playing water officially, everyone has a bottle of water in their hands on that day. He can sprinkle water on whomever he wants, no one objects to it but takes it as a symbol of blessings and good omens.[9]

Other traditional Marma games are held immediately after the water game. For example: girls play rope pulling game, boys play wrestling, bamboo climbing (tang tang) game etc. The most interesting game from here is the boys' bashing game ("Tang Tang"). It has a long 25+ foot bamboo with a large amount of money at the very top. It can be reached only if there are five to six people. And the team that can take it first will get that money. However, the matter seems very simple, but not so much, because the upper hole of the bamboo is filled with oil, so the more the bamboo is shaken, the more the bamboo will be slippery after the oil from the top.

Marma boys fighting on Tang Tang Festival

A cultural program was organized in the afternoon. In it, the traditions of the Marmas are highlighted in various ways. A variety of dances, including the Sangrai dance, are performed. Besides, various Marma songs are performed with the participation of Marma Guni artists. Nowadays, the concert is held after the Marma cultural program. With this Marma cultural event and concert, the Marma youth chose their new "Mraima Sakroy".

Marma Sangrai festival