Sangrai Water Festival
সাংগ্রাই উৎসব
The Marma new-year festival, when young people splash water on each other to wash away the old year.
Sangrai is how the Marma community celebrates the turn of the year in mid-April, part of the wider hill new-year season known as Boisabi. The highlight is the water festival, where young men and women gather around decorated stages and splash each other with water as a gesture of cleansing and goodwill. Homes prepare special cakes and dishes, Buddha images are bathed, and elders are honoured. Bandarban town hosts the largest celebrations.
Good to know
Join in only where invited, and ask before taking photos of people.
More from Bandarban
District guide →
Place Nilgiri
নীলগিরিA ridge-top resort on the Thanchi road where you can stand above a sea of morning clouds.
Place Nilachal
নীলাচলA hilltop viewpoint close to town, best at sunset when the valleys fade into blue layers.
Place Boga Lake
বগা লেকA deep, still lake high in the hills near Ruma, surrounded by forest and a small Bawm village.
Place Nafakhum Waterfall
নাফাখুম জলপ্রপাতA wide, roaring waterfall on the Remakri river, reached by boat and trek from Thanchi.
Nearby
Representative photo Food Mundi
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Representative photo Food Bashkorol (Bamboo Shoot)
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Representative photo Food Nappi
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Representative photo Food Tojah and Laksu
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