The Chakmas

The Chakmas:


The Chakmas are the largest ethnic community in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. According to 1991 census the number of the Chakma was 239,417, a figure lower than the actual size of the Chakma population claim some sources. The Mongoloid Chakmas are Buddhists. They are a patriarchal society. They call themselves Changma. According to hearsay Champaknagar was their original home. But it is not known from which Champaknagar the Chakmas are believesd to have migrated bcause there are various places named Champakagar in different parts of South and Southeast Asian countries(North Myanmar, Bihar, Thailand, and Malaysia).
The Chakma is a community with mush higher literacy rate compared to the national average. They have their own alphabets. The Chakma culture is very rich with epics, folk poems and music.

Chakma Festivals:


Biju:


Biju is the most colorful festival celebrated by the Chakma community. The festival takes place during the last two days of Chaitra(the last month of bangla calender) and the first day of Baishakh(the first month of Bangla calender). The three days are known as Phool Biju, Mool Biju and Gojyai Poiyay.
Phool Biju depicts the celebration of flowers. Little children rise early in the morning to collect at least seven different kinds of flower. Afterward they hang these flowers on front doors or house walls. Then they go to the rivers or canals and splash water upwards. They gaze up towards the sky and grasp the biggest drop in their mouth. These drops are called Bijugulo(fruit). Childre have a lot of fun on this day. The elders work and prepare for the next day –Mool(main or base) Biju.
The special attraction of Mool Biju is a dish called Pajon, prepared with 30 to 40 items of vegetable and dried fish. Pajon must include two special vegetables - Tara and Bedagi- collected from the hills. Pajon is symbol of unity as many vegetables are mixed. Almost every house cooks the dish. The Chakmas believe that if a person eats Pajon from 26 houses he of she would be immune from any kind of sickness for the next year. Children put on their new dresses and visit house to eat Pajon, fruit and other special items.
After the two busy days arrives the third day, Gojyay Pojyay, which means to “roll and relax”. This is what exactly people do after all the hardship and excitement.

Halpalani:


Halpalani is called the second Biju. It is celebrated in the Bangla month of Ashar. On the day of this festival, the domestic cows, which help in cultivation are bathed. It is the festival of the peasant society. The farmers take rest in this day and keep their activities off. Special food item are prepared during this festival.
Gengkhuli:


It is a very popular form of music in Chakma society. The folk singers sing Gengkhuli with the musical instrument Bela (a kind of violin) throughout the night. Chakma history - based literature from this song. Although the glory of Gengkhuli has faded, it is still occasionally performed in the Chakma inhabited areas.