The vibrant Barsha Utsav monsoon festival of the Rakhine community concluded in a festive atmosphere at the Shaibal Point of Cox’s Bazar sea beach. From noon until evening on Friday (July 4), young men and women from various Rakhine neighborhoods across the city gathered to celebrate this annual cultural event.
The festival featured a variety of traditional Rakhine foods served under the casuarina trees, followed by joyful celebrations of the monsoon, marked by rain-soaked dancing, singing, and cheerful conversations. For a day, the beach transformed into a living stage of Rakhine culture.
The festival, which began on June 13 (Friday), had been held every Friday from noon until evening, drawing enthusiastic participation from Rakhine youth eager to celebrate their heritage.
Speaking to Cox’s Bazar Life, Rakhine women’s leader Malau Rakhine shared, “The Rakhine community has been celebrating this festival for almost a hundred years. It is primarily a youth-centric festival that spans two months of joy, music, and togetherness.”
The festival traditionally runs from the Asharhi Purnima (full moon) to the Ashwini Purnima, transforming Shaibal Point at Cox’s Bazar beach into a vibrant gathering place every Friday during these months. This weekly celebration has become a unique expression of Rakhine cultural heritage, uniting the community in joy and unity as they welcome the onset of the monsoon.
Abdu Rashid Manik
Photo: Abdu Rashid Manik
