Dhaka, 28 Dec 2009, National. www.thedailystar.net
Chief of Chakma Circle Raja Devasish Roy receiving a royal sword handed to him as token of respect by a headman at Raj Darbar on the first day of Raj Punyah festival in Rangamati town yesterday. Photo: STAR.
Our Correspondent, Rangamati.
Raj Punyah, the traditional royal festival of the Chakma dynasty, began on the premises of Chakma Rajbari (palace) amid great enthusiasm and fanfare in Rangamati hill town yesterday.
On the first day of the three-day festival, thousands of indigenous people including Chakma, Marma, Tangchagya, Tripura, Pankhua, Lusai, Khiyang, Bawm and Chak communities from Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari hill districts thronged the Rajbari premises.
Chakma King barrister Devasish Roy and prince Tribhuban Arya Dev Roy, accompanied by royal advisers, came to the Darbar Hall and sat on makeshift thrones in presence of a huge crowd at the opening ceremony.
As per tradition, the headmen (mouza chiefs) of the Chakma Circle paid respect to their king through handing over of the royal sword.
"The decades-long disturbance in Chittagong Hill Tracts is over due to signing of the historic peace accord. Now we want to see that hill people are benefited by the peace treaty," Raja Devasish said in his speech for the audience on the palace compound.
He urged full implementation of the accord and steps for development of the hill tracts people.
He also emphasised involving women in every development activities.
Later, Devasish Roy received annual 'jhum' taxes from the 175 headmen of 175 mouzas under his circle.
His subjects also gave him different gifts including chickens, pigs and wine
Doing good.
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