Today, The Marma community is celebrating a colorful festival, water splashing in Rangamati. Photo : BSS

RANGAMATI, April 16, 2025 (BSS) - The Marma community in Rajasthal here bade a farewell to the outgoing year and welcomed the new year on the first day of Baishakah, with celebrating a colorful festival-water-splashing, popularly known as ‘the Sangrai Rilong Poye’ or ‘, Jalkeli’.

Kaptai Upazila Zone Commander Lt. Col. SM Mahmudul Hasan Sohag was the chief guest at the inauguration ceremony, organized by the Rangamati Marma Cultural Association (MASS) this noon marking the popular ceremony ‘Jalkeli festival’.

President of the Shangrai Rilong Poye Celebration Committee Mong Sui Pru Marma presided over the function.  Of the invited guests, Kaptai Zone Deputy Commander Major Fayez Ahmed, Rajasthali Sub-Zone Commander Major Hasib Imam, Captain Ahsanul Haque Kabir and function Celebration Committee Convener Adumong Marma, among others, spoke at the event.

Thousands of men, women, children and teenagers participated in the Marma water festival at Bangalhalia School Ground in Rajasthali Upazila here.

The day-long Jalkeli festival was followed by a pleasant cultural programme where artistes rendered songs and performed dances in presence of a huge gathering of hilly people and Bengalis.

After a brief discussion of the ceremony, the chief guest and other guests inaugurated the Jalkeli festival by sprinkling water.

Subsequently, the youth divided into groups and splashed water on each other with water kept in small dinghies and boats. Marma youths sprinkled water on each other to the tune of Sangrai songs.

Talking to the BSS, President of Marma Cultural Organization, Mong Se Pru, said, “To wash away all the sorrows, sorrows and evil spirits of the old year and welcome the new year, the members of the Marma community participated in the water festival today.”

“Marma youths sprinkled water on each other to the tune of Sangrai songs . . .  Every year, the Marma community looks forward to this festival," he added.
Besides, the Marma community's water festival at the Ching Hla Mong Mari Stadium in Rangamati on April 19, the Marmas will also be participating in water festivals in various remote areas of the Rangamati district and upazila.