Sangrain Festival

The traditional Sangrain Festival of the Marma community concluded last Friday at Rajasthali upazila, under Rangamati district.
The Marma Sangskritik Sangathan, a local cultural organisation, held elaborate programmes to celebrate Sangrain, marking the New Year.
The Marmas held cultural programmes and games on the occasion. 'Jal Khela' (splashing water) is the biggest attraction of Sangrain [observed on the second day of the Bengali year].
A large number of enthusiastic locals -- along with Marmas from the three hill districts of Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari -- joined the festival. A significant turnout of domestic tourists, journalists from the capital city and other parts of the country were also seen at the festival.
Sangrain, which began on April 11, concluded on April 15.
Turned out in Marma attire, Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr. Afsarul Amin inaugurated the 'Jal Khela' and addressed the ceremony as chief guest.
State Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Affairs Dipanker Talukder and Nikhil Kumar Chakma, chairman of Rangamati Hill District Council, addressed the gathering as special guests.
Soon after inauguration by the guests, two groups of young Marma boys and girls respectively, splashed each other with water jets.
In his speech, Dr Afsarul Amin said, “We are proud of the Bengali traditions as well as customs of all the indigenous communities living in CHT which have greatly enriched the collective culture of the country.”
A cultural programme was held after the 'Jal Khela' session. Pitha (cakes) were distributed among the guests and participants during the function.