Washing away the woes of the year gone by

The Marma community in Khagrachhari brought out a rally on the occasion of ‘Sangrai.’Photo: STAR

The Marma community celebrated 'Sangrai" in Chittagong Hill Tracts with much enthusiasm and fanfare.
'Sangrai' or 'Sangraine' in Marma means 'new year.' Marma Unnayan Shangshad has organised a weeklong programme to celebrate the community's biggest traditional function.
As part of the celebration, Marma Unnayan Shangshad also held a water sport festival, which ended on April 14. On new year, young Marma men and women playfully douse each other with water. It is believed that this tradition removes the woes, pain and sins of the last year and people are reinvigorated to have a good start.
Other ethnic communities in Khagrachhari also celebrate the festival to welcome the new year.
The day's first programme, 'Sangrai Poaye,' was held on April 14. On this day, the Marmas wake up early, bathe and clean their houses and surroundings. They also decorate their homes with flowers, and offer wreaths to rivers, canals and springs, seeking divine blessings.
The festival, originating in the indigenous communities, is now celebrated by the local Bengalis with equal enthusiasm. Tourists flock to the area to attend the celebration.

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Our Correspondent, Rangamati
Sangrai Utshab' (known for its 'water festival'), the biggest traditional social festival of the Marmas in the Chittagong Hilll Tracts (CHT), was celebrated with much gusto last Wednesday in Rangamati.
The day after the Bengali New Year, local Marmas held their 'water festival' at Chitmorang, under Kaptia upazila in Rangamati.
Marma Shangskritik Shangstha (MSS), Rangamati organised the function.
Dipankar Talukder, state minister for CHT Affairs, inaugurated the festival as the chief guest while president of MSS and also Kapati upazila chairman, Aungsu Chine Chowdhury chaired the programme.
Aungsa Prue Marma, chaiman of Kawkhali upazila and Chitmorang UP chairman Thoai Ching Marma also spoke on the occasion.
Marma leaders in their speeches conveyed that the traditions and cultures of indigenous communities are under threat due to political, economic and social discrepancies. They urged the government to ensure equal rights and privileges for the ethnic communities.
Thousands of indigenous people, mostly Marmas, from far-flung areas of three hill districts -- Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari -- thronged the festival venue at Chitmorang Bazaar to take part in traditional 'water sport.'
Young boys on one side, and girls on the other, drenched each other with water. It a fun-filled occasion for all.