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.

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.

The Oraon Community

The Oraons
The Oraons also found in different literature as Urao or Orao is the second largest Adivasi community of North-western rgion of Bangaldesh. The Oraons are concentrated in mosto of the districts in the North Bengal. There are also some Oraons among the tea communities in the Northwestern part of the country. According to 1991 census the number of the oraons was 8,216.but a survey of a Oraon community organization in 1998 estimated their number at approximately 85,000.The Oraons speak krokh and Sadri. Their languages originated from Dravidian language family. Most of the Oraons retain the Oraon religion but some of them have become Christians. The Oraons depend of agriculture. Toppo, Tirki, Bandra , kujur, Minj, Back, Baroar, kishpotta, kachhua(Ekka) and kawa(Khakha) are some of th calns(gotra) of the Oraons. The Oraons cannot marry in the same clan or Gotra. The Oraons have a very colorful an diversified cultural heritage.
Some Oraon Festivals

Fagua Festival:
Bangla Falgun (February-March) month is the first month of the Oraon calendar. Summer starts from this month. In this day they set branches of different trees on the ground and hang some hay on these branches, then they set fire on the hay. The Oraons think that this festival symbolizes the death of Mother Earth.
Sarhul Festival:
This ceremony is celebrated in the Bangla month of Chaitra(March-April). The Oraon arrange this festival in case of rain or intense drought. In Chaitra, if there is want of rain, pitchers filled with water, are kept in the village heads’ houses. As the Oraon girls come dancing to these houses, the water is poured on them. The Oraons believe that this act will bring the rains. If more rain is desired, the Pahan(the village head) and his wife sit beside each other and vermilion is smeared on their forehead. This is a symbolic marriage of earth and sky.


Karam Festival:
Karam is a major festival of the Oraons. This festival is held in the Bangla month of Bhadra(July-August). To celebrate this festival, the Oraon cut a branch of a Karam tree and set it on the ground. Then they worship it with songs and dances. The Oraons believe that the Karm tree is equal to the protector.

Santals Community

The Santals

The Santals are ther largest Adivasi community in the plains. They are concentrated in ther greater Rajshahi, Rangpur, Thakurgaon and Cahapainawabganj districts of the North-western region of Bangladesh. There are also some Santals among the tea garden communities in Sylhet, Maulvi Bazar and Habiganj districts. According to 1991 census, the number of Santal was 202,162. But the people of this community claim their number is higher than the government estimate. The Santals call themselves “Hor Hopon”, which means human being. The Hihiri-Piriri is said to be their ancient habitat. In 1833, the British government sanctioned them a separate place named Santal Pargana. The Santals are part of the Proto-Austral race. Their language originated from Austro-Asiatic language family. Tere are twelve clans or paris in the Santal society. It is hightl prohibited to make any marital relations within the same clan. The name of ancient Santla religion was Sari Sarna that teaches them to remain in love with Nature.

The cultural life of the Santals (one of the first people to populate India ten to 20 thousands years ago) has enriched Bangla language and culture in many ways. However, sadly enough, one of the oldest peoples of the Indian sub-continent is faced with changes and challenges traditions an heritage. Nevertheless, the Santals demonstrate their willingness to hold on their distinct cultural heritage.

Santals Festivals

Dasai Festival and Dance:

Dasai is a Santal festival. Many tunes and dances originated form it. There is hearsay that Dasai festival is related with the story of Ramachandra’s conquering of Lanka. King Ramachandra killed Ravana(ruler of Lanka) by worshipping Goddess Shrichandi. The Santals believe that Ram is their king and they are his lost subjects. King Rama will find them when they will have completed 70 graves on the top of one grave. The followers of Rama arrange this festival to seek help of Shrichandi for salvation from war, epidemic, diseases, despair etc.

Sarjom Festival Dance:

Sarjom is a traditional Santal festival. At this festival, Santal women put fresh sal flowers in their topknots and men eagerly await the taste of the homemade alcoholic beverage. They arrange marriage of the sal trees with the Bonbibi (goddess of the forest) for the protection of the sal trees.

Baha Festival and Dance:

This is a very favorite festival of the Santals. Actually, the spring festival is the Baha Festival. In this festival the Santal women put wild flowers in their topknots and get deeply engaged in singing and dancing.