Marma boys, girls engage in water play

Marma youths participated in water play (Jolkeli) at Sangrai, the main social festival of the Marma community in Bandarban. There is a saying that Marma youth, encompassing both males and females, participate in the Jolkeli ceremony to unite in marriage through the exchange of gestures.

Various events have been organized for 4 days around Sangrai, the festival dedicated to bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming the new one.

Bir Bahadur Ushwe Sing MP, the president of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Ministry Parliamentary Standing Committee, inaugurated the Jolkeli competition by sprinkling water on the local king's field at Bandarban Sadar on the third day of the Sagarai festival on Monday afternoon.

Among others, Bandarban Municipal Mayor Shamsul Islam, Member of Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council Ksmong Marma, Director of Minority Cultural Institute Manghnching Marma were present there.

The Marma youth from different unions of Bandarban Sadar and Rowanchhari Upazila were grouped into several teams to engage in the Jolkeli festival.

Furthermore, children and teenagers from hilly villages, including Rajaramath, have actively participated in Jolkeli. Additionally, cultural programs and activities such as bamboo climbing are also organized.

Meanwhile, night-long pitha-making competitions took place in Ujanipara, Jadipara, and hillside villages in Bandarban. Subsequently, the youth distributed the pithas made during the night to their relatives in the neighborhood.

Mangmanshai Marma, president of the festival celebration committee, said, "We have arranged a series of events spanning four days for the Sangrai festival. On the third day of the festival, Jolkeli competition, cultural program, and pitha-making competition were organized. The main event of the Sangrai festival is scheduled to take place at the district headquarters on Tuesday. However, the celebrations will persist for several more days in the hilly villages."