The traditional Jalkeli festival, a joyous occasion for the Rakhine community, began in Cox's Bazar on Monday 17 April.
The indigenous communities come together and engage in water play to purify all the sorrows and despair left behind by the passing year on the occasion of welcoming the new year, also known as Sangrain.
The festival, which will continue for three days, bids farewell to the previous year and welcomes the new year.
The traditional belief is that a gloomy and unsavoury past can be washed away with a fresh start in the upcoming.
On this occasion, the Rakhine villages have been colorfully decorated for the past few days. Right after the inauguration, Rakhine youths from one neighborhood to another neighborhood or from one pandal to another pandal dance-sing or cheer up the Rakhine villages.
According to the Rakhine calendar, the year 1385 is approaching and the year 1386 is coming, so the festival started in every Rakhine village. In Jalkeli, the Rakhine community finds hope for the purity and purity of the future in the gloom of the past year.
Rakhine New Year is 1384 Mogi or Rakhine year. In the Rakhine language, this New Year festival is called 'Sangreng Poe'.
Around 15 pandals have been built in the Rakhine village of Cox's Bazar including Maheshkhali, Teknaf, Chakaria, Harbang, Ramu,
Rakhine community people are enjoying this new year festival. They go to the Rakhine village and watch various festivals including the people of Rakhine community besides the people of different local communities.
Rakhine Girl, Messen Rakhine said,
This is a traditional social festival to welcome the new year. Apart from Jalkeli, we get to enjoy various traditional meals during the festival.
In this procession, youths will carry earthen pitchers and old men and women will carry 'Kalp Tari' behind them. From Kiang, the procession will visit pandals and indulge in water throwing games. Wandering around the pandals, these tarans will dance and sing and enjoy their traditional drinks. This is their arrangement to welcome the new year by soaking each other in water and washing away all the sins, fatigue and inconsistencies of the old year.
Another Rakhine girl Wan Kin Rakhine said, festival has been celebrated socially on the occasion of Rakhine New Year since ancient times. This time was no exception. Everyone is welcoming the new year with joy. Through this we dream to forget all the old pain, pain, jealousy and hatred by sprinkling water on each other. It is a very sacred and festive day for us.
Director of Cox's Bazar Cultural Center Mong Cheng Hla Rakhine said, "Cox's Bazar Cultural Center celebrates this festival every year." This year was no exception. This festival will continue for the next three days.
Cox's Bazar Additional Superintendent of Police Rafiqul Islam said, "Necessary security measures have been taken on the occasion of Jalkeli festival of Rakhines." Along with the police, members of various law enforcement agencies are on the ground. Strict security measures have been taken.
It is their hope that the future of Rakhine community will be bright and beautiful every year through Jalkeli.
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