The vibrant Sangrai festivities, a hallmark of the Rakhine community, have commenced in Cox’s Bazar, marking three days of spirited celebrations.
Starting at 2 PM on Wednesday, the festival is unfolding across 50 locations in Cox’s Bazar district, orchestrated by the Cox’s Bazar Cultural Centre, with a dazzling array of 12 pandals adorning the city.
Preparations have been underway for days, with Rakhine villages bedecked in colorful adornments. As the festivities unfold, Rakhine youths traverse neighborhoods and pandals, engaging in lively dance, song, and revelry.
With the impending close of Rakhine calendar year 1385, anticipation for the dawn of year 1386 permeates the air, symbolizing hope amidst past challenges.
Across Cox’s Bazar, from East Fish Market to Chaul Bazar, pandals have sprung up, offering focal points for cultural exchanges and communal joy.
Similar scenes unfold in neighboring locales like Maheshkhali, Teknaf, and Ramu, as the Rakhine community, alongside fellow residents, partake in the festivities.
Missen Rakhine underscores the festival’s communal essence, emphasizing its non-religious nature. Water throwing games, a customary practice, symbolize renewal and purification, washing away the old year’s burdens.
Mae Kin Rakhine outlines the morning procession’s route, featuring visits to monasteries and pandals, highlighting the ritual’s symbolic significance.
Wan Kin Rakhine echoes the sentiment, stressing the festival’s role in fostering unity and joy.
Director Mong Cheng Hla Rakhine reaffirms the festival’s continuity, a cherished tradition upheld by the Cox’s Bazar Cultural Centre.
Amidst the revelry, Additional Superintendent of Police Rafiqul Islam assures the public of security measures, ensuring safety throughout the festivities.
The Sangrai Festival promises three days of cultural immersion, uniting communities in celebration and renewal amidst the picturesque landscape of Cox’s Bazar.
