The Rakhaing community is one of the oldest ethnic races living in Bangladesh. They have a very rich and eulogistic socio-economic cultural heritage for more than two thousand of year’s back.When the days of Mrouk-Oo under the Rakhine kings were popularly known as golden period of Rakhine (Arakan). In 1784, when Bodaw Paya, the Burmese king attacked and occupied Mrouk-Oo, invading Burmans resorted to mass killing, and scorched earth policy in Rakhine prey besides carrying off most famous ancient image of Mahamuni. The invasion laid the Rakhine country side wiped out and essentiated the destructure of Mrouk-Oo. Such inhuman oppression compelled Hundred of Thousands of Rakhaings fled into the Bakergonj and Chittagong districts in 1784.
Now Rakhaings are residing in Cox’sBazar, Chittagong hill Tracts, Patuakhali and Barguna districts with a population of approximately one hundred and fifty thousands only.
The Rakhaing male people are naturally wear Longi, Shart; but religion special traditional day that time wear one of the like Jacket, it called rakhing language Pronkhen/Barishita. The rakhing female peoples are also wear Thame (Longi) and Ahgeo (Bluws). The rakhaing male and female dress style is very different from other religions such as bengali, hindi as well as english people.
The Rakhaing Festivals:
Some major festivals of the Rakhaings are thungren, Nabanna, Oyagoye and Talla Soye.
Thungren Poye(Water Festival):
One of the biggest cultural festivals of the Rakhaing is Thungren Poye. This festival is for celebrating the new-year. It is very colorful and displays most majesty.
The Rakhaing arrange this festival during the last few days of the Rakhaine calendar and the first few days of the New Year. The weeklong program of Thungren Poye starts towards the end of last month called, Taborthay of the Rakhaing calendar. This program continues till the first three of four days of the first month called Tankhon of the New Year. During this festival the people of the Rakhine community go back to their villages or homes for celebration of the festival. Every home becomes vibrant with the festive mood.
The much waited three days event Riling Poye or water festival starts the following day. In the Rakhaing inhabited areas pavilions are decorated with flowers, leaves and balloons. Water is made available near the pavilion. Young boys and girls throw water at each other throughout the festival days. Everybody coming to the festival is clad in colorful dresses. Colorful cultural events are organized. People enjoy dancing, singing and playing music. Humor, laughter and lots of fun are unvoidable parts of the festival. Another attraction of the water festival is Shengei, which is a special slogan type rhyme. This song is sung to invite the Rakhaing society for discipline and upholding culture.
Rakhaing’s Buddh Worship Dance:
Before starting any auspicious work, the Buddhist Rakhaings offer lamp, flowers etc.before bowing to Buddha, monastery, parents and elders.
With lamp or candle in hand the rakhaing artists start dance or perfomance with respect to Buddha, religion, monastery, parents and elderly people.
Rakhaing’s Weaving Dance:
Weaving is traditional profession of the Rakhaing. In early days the more a women was skilled in weaving, the more honor she got in the 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.
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