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Rakhain, a small tribe
of arakan origin
belonging
to the Bhotbarmi community of the Mongoloids. Many consider that Rakhains
and their neighbours, marmas are in fact, the same tribe. The skull of
Rakhains is round, their nose is flat, they have black hair, they are
usually short in height, and their complexion is light brown.
Historical Background:
A section of Rakhains started
living in ramu and its adjacent areas in chittagong hill tracts in the
fifteenth century. In the eighteenth century, many Rakhain people migrated
from their homeland in Arakan because of political turmoil and they
gradually settled in different areas of Chittagong Hill Tracts and
patuakhali. There were 4,049 Rakhains in the Patuakhali region in 1872. The
number increased to 16,394 in 1951, but reduced to 3,713 in 1979. The census
of 1991 recorded the number of Rakhain population in Bangladesh at about
7,000. More than eighty per cent of them lived in Ramu, cox's bazar,
Bandarban, Manikchhari and Teknaf.
Social System:
Rituals: Though Buddhists
by religious faith, Rakhains, like other tribes and sub-tribes, believe in
superstitions, magic and supernatural powers. They lead very simple lives.
The birth anniversary of Gautam buddha is one of their major religious
ceremonies. They observe the spring festival and the Baishakhi, maghi
purnima and prabarana purnima. 'Sundrey' is their greatest community
festival and is observed for three days on the occasion of Chaitra Sankranti.
Everybody takes part in this festival. Young boys and girls sing songs and
perform dances in groups.
Lifestyle: The main
profession of Rakhains is farming. They also weave and make salt and
molasses. Both males and females take part in agricultural work. But women
take the leading role in livestock rearing and poultry. Some Rakhains are
involved in business and a few of them teach. Their diet includes rice,
fish, pulses and vegetables. Pork and dried fish are favourite foods. They
serve decorated pithas (cakes) and sweet rice porridge on ceremonial
occasion.
The common dress of Rakhain
men is the lungi and fatua while the women wear embroidered lungis and
blouses and also various types of ornaments on their bodies and flowers on
their heads. Marriage is a religious and social obligation in Rakhain
society. Generally marriages are arranged by guardians, but nowadays, love
marriages are also recognised. dowry is not accepted among Rakhains. Though
the father is the formal head of the family, both male and female members
have equal rights. Sons and daughters inherit parental property in equal
proportion.
Language: The language of
Rakhains belongs to the Bhotbarmi group of languages. Rakhain children start
their education at Buddhist Patshalas (primary school) or khyangs
(monastery). They receive both religious and linguistic education there. The
rate of literacy in the Rakhain community is very high and some of them are
highly educated. Rakhains burn the bodies after death and bury the remains.
The shraddha ceremony for the dead person is held after seven days from
death. [Ahmed Rafique]
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