Every community has its own festivals and ceremonies, so the Chakmas have them too. The most commonly celebrated festivals and ceremonies are widely discussed below.
* Bizu:
Bizu is the most important socio-religious festival of the Chakmas which is celebrated with great pomp and merry. It is a three-day long festival, which marks the end of the Chakma calendar, and the beginning of a new year.
The first day, called as Phool Bizu day begins on 13th April every year, last day of Chon (Chaitra) month. On this day, everyone is advised to bathe early in the morning and offer flowers at the nearest water source, such as - river, lake or ponds around. The household materials, clothes, and kitchen items are fully cleaned and the houses are decorated with flowers.
On the second day, called as Mool Bizu (one day before the New Year), everyone visits each other’s house for celebrating this joyful event. Every guest visiting in the house is offered and treated with special dishes and curries. Drinking, singing and dancing with close group friends are common activities practiced all over the day. Young girls hang around the villages by wearing Chakma traditional dresses and attires.
After finishing the first two days of the Bizu festival, the last day is called Gojjepojjey Din or New Year’s day of the Chakmas. It is the first day of their calendar year, known as Poillhey Bojekh (Baisakh – 15th April) which is a day for taking proper rest after spending the previous days with enough fun and enjoyments. The young ones of the family take blessings from their older family members. People go to their local Buddhist temple for offering prayers and foods to the monks. The temple is lighted with many candles in the evening and prayers are offered for wishing a happy and peaceful year.
One amazing fact is, in the state of Tripura, every year Bizu Mela (or Bizu Fair) is organized at a particular location. The location is decided every year by the State Bizumela Development Committee. In Bizu Mela, various dancing and singing ceremonies are organized continuously for three days during the Bizu. Every day it begins from afternoon and ends in late night where many Chakma (also includes non-Chakma) audiences come to attend from different locations of the country. Many popular and young artists are invited for performing their artistic talents on the stage.
In 2014, Bizu Mela was organized in Arunachal Pradesh for the first time for paying tribute to the 60th year of the settlement of the Chakma people in the state.
* Buddha Purnima
After Bizu, Buddha Purnima is the second most important festival observed by the Chakmas. The day usually falls in the month of May (full moon day) and is also known as Baishaki Purnima. It is the most sacred festival observed by the Buddhists for showing their respect and remembrance of Lord Buddha for three reasons. They are:
* Kathin Chibar Daan
Kathin chibar daan is another annual religious ceremony celebrated by Chakmas. The monks in the monastery are offered or 'Dan' robes or ‘Chibar’ which are made of cotton and weaved by devotees during the whole night, hence it is called ‘Kathin’, which means difficult. Bishakha, a nurse who served Gautama Buddha, introduced the festival about 2,500 years ago.
Numerous devotees from various places come to attend this holy ceremony.
Apart from the above three, Chakmas also observe and celebrate Asta Pariskar Dana, Sangha Dana, Dhamma Kamo Pujo, Anna Meru Dana, Jadi Pujo etc. which are connected with Buddhist beliefs.
Hoia, Haal Palonee, Sinni, Than Mana etc. are also practiced which are connected with Jhum (shifting cultivation) and nature worship. They also appease various deities in various forms and ways depending on the life history of the deity. Sometimes only with lamp, sometime with flowers, sweet meat, popped rice, stale rice, and sometimes with the sacrifice of animals like pig, goat, chicken, duck etc. at the time of marriage, family peace, and during illness.
* Bizu:
Bizu is the most important socio-religious festival of the Chakmas which is celebrated with great pomp and merry. It is a three-day long festival, which marks the end of the Chakma calendar, and the beginning of a new year.
The first day, called as Phool Bizu day begins on 13th April every year, last day of Chon (Chaitra) month. On this day, everyone is advised to bathe early in the morning and offer flowers at the nearest water source, such as - river, lake or ponds around. The household materials, clothes, and kitchen items are fully cleaned and the houses are decorated with flowers.
On the second day, called as Mool Bizu (one day before the New Year), everyone visits each other’s house for celebrating this joyful event. Every guest visiting in the house is offered and treated with special dishes and curries. Drinking, singing and dancing with close group friends are common activities practiced all over the day. Young girls hang around the villages by wearing Chakma traditional dresses and attires.
After finishing the first two days of the Bizu festival, the last day is called Gojjepojjey Din or New Year’s day of the Chakmas. It is the first day of their calendar year, known as Poillhey Bojekh (Baisakh – 15th April) which is a day for taking proper rest after spending the previous days with enough fun and enjoyments. The young ones of the family take blessings from their older family members. People go to their local Buddhist temple for offering prayers and foods to the monks. The temple is lighted with many candles in the evening and prayers are offered for wishing a happy and peaceful year.
One amazing fact is, in the state of Tripura, every year Bizu Mela (or Bizu Fair) is organized at a particular location. The location is decided every year by the State Bizumela Development Committee. In Bizu Mela, various dancing and singing ceremonies are organized continuously for three days during the Bizu. Every day it begins from afternoon and ends in late night where many Chakma (also includes non-Chakma) audiences come to attend from different locations of the country. Many popular and young artists are invited for performing their artistic talents on the stage.
In 2014, Bizu Mela was organized in Arunachal Pradesh for the first time for paying tribute to the 60th year of the settlement of the Chakma people in the state.
* Buddha Purnima
After Bizu, Buddha Purnima is the second most important festival observed by the Chakmas. The day usually falls in the month of May (full moon day) and is also known as Baishaki Purnima. It is the most sacred festival observed by the Buddhists for showing their respect and remembrance of Lord Buddha for three reasons. They are:
- The day of Buddha’s birth as Prince Siddhartha
- Attaining enlightenment or nirvana by Buddha and
- Passing away of Buddha
* Kathin Chibar Daan
Kathin chibar daan is another annual religious ceremony celebrated by Chakmas. The monks in the monastery are offered or 'Dan' robes or ‘Chibar’ which are made of cotton and weaved by devotees during the whole night, hence it is called ‘Kathin’, which means difficult. Bishakha, a nurse who served Gautama Buddha, introduced the festival about 2,500 years ago.
Numerous devotees from various places come to attend this holy ceremony.
Apart from the above three, Chakmas also observe and celebrate Asta Pariskar Dana, Sangha Dana, Dhamma Kamo Pujo, Anna Meru Dana, Jadi Pujo etc. which are connected with Buddhist beliefs.
Hoia, Haal Palonee, Sinni, Than Mana etc. are also practiced which are connected with Jhum (shifting cultivation) and nature worship. They also appease various deities in various forms and ways depending on the life history of the deity. Sometimes only with lamp, sometime with flowers, sweet meat, popped rice, stale rice, and sometimes with the sacrifice of animals like pig, goat, chicken, duck etc. at the time of marriage, family peace, and during illness.
