The Marma community in Bandarban celebrated their traditional festival ‘Maha Wa Ggyo Wai Pwe’, widely known as Probarona Purnima, with deep religious devotion and vibrant cultural festivities. This auspicious occasion stands as the second-largest religious and social festival for the Buddhist Marma community living in the hill tracts. In the local Marma language, ‘Wa Ggyo Wai’ refers to Probarona Purnima, while ‘Pwe’ translates to a festival, encapsulating a period of profound spiritual reflection and communal joy.
As tradition dictates, the celebration arrives on the full moon day that marks the conclusion of the three-month Buddhist lent or monsoon rains retreat known as vassa. Since early morning, Buddhist monasteries or viharas across the district resonated with sacred chants, prayers, and hymns dedicated to seeking peace, harmony, and well-being for all humanity. Devotees gathered in large numbers, offering flowers, monetary gifts, and traditional food alms, locally called 'soing', to the revered monks.
The day-long celebrations featured a series of deeply symbolic and picturesque rituals. These included the ceremonial bathing of Buddha statues, the magnificent and auspicious chariot procession known as the Mangal Rath Yatra, and the display of traditional deity effigies called pochoma. People of all ages, dressed in their finest traditional attire, actively participated in these cultural processions, reflecting the rich heritage and spiritual depth of the Marma indigenous community.
As dusk fell, the atmosphere transformed into a breathtaking spectacle of lights. Monasteries and residential courtyards were illuminated with countless oil lamps, casting a warm glow across the hills. The highlight of the evening was the release of colorful sky lanterns, locally referred to as fanush, into the night sky. Devotees watched with reverence as the glowing lanterns drifted upward, symbolizing the release of earthly grievances and sending prayers for peace and prosperity into the heavens.
The conclusion of the vassa retreat through Probarona Purnima also paves the way for upcoming cultural and religious milestones, including the sacred Kathina Civara Dana festival. Through these age-old customs, the Marma community continues to preserve its distinct cultural identity while fostering an enduring spirit of communal harmony, devotion, and peace within the region.
