The Rakhaing Community

The Rakhaings:

The Rakhaings are one of the major ethnic communities of Bangladesh concentrated in the coastal districts of Cox’sbazar, Patuakhali and Barguna. The word Rakhaing originated from the Pali word Rakkha meaning protection. The historians assume that the people of this community carefully protect their own religion, tradition and customs, that is why they came to be known as Rakhaing.

The original home of the Rakhaing is in the Arkan State of present Myanmar. Burma and Arakan were two different states till 1784. From 3325 BC to 1784 AD, the Rakhaing community was the principal group of people in sovereign Arakan. Another name of ancient Arakan was Rakhaing pray, which means “Rakhaing State”.

In the ninth century, the Rakhaing  king Chula Chandra Taing, expanded his kingdom up to Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar region. It is at that time, that the Rakhings started to arrive in this region. But, in 1784, the Burmese king Bod Paya invaded the Rakhaing pray or the Arakan State. As a result, Patuakhali and Barguna by boat and started to dwell in the sparsely populated forest region. Some sources claim that presently more than 200,000 Rakhaings live in Cox’sBazar, Patuakhali, Barguna and Chittagong Hill Tracts.

The Rakhaings are a Mongoloid race. But some assume that they are a genetic mixture of the Aryans and the Mongols. The Rakhaings are Buddhists. Many Rakhaing historians claim that during the lifetime of lord Buddha, the Rakhaings converted into the Buddhist religion.

The Rakhaing Festivals:

Some major festivals of the Rakhaings are Sangreng, Nabanna, Oyagoye and Talla Soye.

Sangreng Poye:

One of the biggest cultural festivals of the Rakhaings is Sangreng  Poye. This festival is for celebrating the new-year. It is very colorful and displays much majesty. The Rakhaings arrange this festival during the last few days of the Rakhaing calendar and the first few days of the New year. There is amzing similarity of the Rakhaing Year with the Bangla year and the Tripura year of Shakabda(Ear of Shalibahan, commercing from 78 or 79 AD). The reason behind this is that after kind Akbar introduced the Bangla Year, the Tripuar kind of that time begang the Tripura Year and the Rakhing king inaugurated the Rakhaing Year in resemblance of the Bangla Year. The Bangla and Rakhaing years start and end at the same time.

Buddha Worship Dance:

Before starting any auspicious work, the Buddhists Rakhaings offer lamps, flowers etc. before bowing to Buddha, monastery, parents and elders. With lamp or candle in hand the Rakhaing artists start their dance or performance with respect to Buddha, religion, monastery, parents and elderly people.

Weaving Dance:

Weaving is a traditional profession of the Rakhaing. In early days, the more a woman was skilled in weaving, the more honor she got in society. This dance is based on songs composed on the description of weaving techniques, selection of color, design arrangement etc, of loom clothes. Clothes made by Rakhaing women were used in every occasion in the royal family including the royal coronation. There was a custom to honor the distinguished weavers at the royal functions.

Cradle Dance:

Rakhaing mothers sing lullabies by swinging the cradle to make the babies sleep. The Rakhaing songs contain description of Rakhaing history, landscapes of the Rakhaing inhabited region and occupations of the community. Besides, obligations towards parents, neighbors and the society are the themes of their songs. The Rakhaing folk dances are based on these songs.