The three-day Jalkeli festival of the Rakhine community has ended in Cox's Bazar Bangladesh.

The 3-day New Year festival of the minority Rakhine community. which started on Wednesday (April 17), ended on Friday (April 19).

They welcomed the new year (1386) by singing and dancing for three days. People of different ages enjoy water festival. People of other religions also gather to see this water festival.

Besides, foreigners staying in Cox's Bazar also participated in this festival. This is like a sweet harmony.

Pandals are decorated in various colors in Tekpara Buddhist temple. Cox's Bazar city and Rakhine countryside. On one side of the pandal is a drum filled with water, on the other side a group of Rakhine youths with a wooden boat, each holding a pitcher. They threw water at each other and called for purification.

Inin Rakhine, a degree student at Cox's Bazar City College, said, 'I can't explain the joy I feel on this day. We Rakhines are ready to welcome this new year in many ways. Last year also we had a lot of fun, danced, sang songs. This year is more fun than ever. Happy Rakhine New Year to all.

A young girl named Mimi Chakma of resident of Tekpara said, After three years, I participated in the Water festival this year. I am very excited about it.

Many of my friends are also indulging themselves in this festival. We all have a lot of fun together. We friends of other faiths are also here, all of us are dancing and singing together to celebrate the festival.

Foreign tourist Eliza Patel said, 'I am enjoying the culture even though I don't know anything about it. I am taking some of the best moments of my life from Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, the organizers hope that Rakhine community will spread happiness, peace and prosperity in the world in the new year.

Director of Cox's Bazar Cultural Center Mong Chen La said, "The three-day festival has ended with overall security. This time 12 pandals have been built in Rakhine village of the city.

Not only Rakhine, but other religions also came to the festival and created a melabandhan of harmony. This festival is also held in Rakhine villages of Teknaf, Ukhia, Ramu, Chakria, Pekua, Eidgaon, Maheshkhali in Cox's Bazar district. Jalkeli festival is celebrated in more than 50 pandals in these regions. And they are happy to celebrate the New Year in a peaceful environment.

Meanwhile, this water festival of the Rakhine community has become a meeting place for all communities.

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