The Rakhine are one of the four main Buddhist ethnic groups of Burma (the others being the
Burman,
Shan and
Mon people). Rakhine culture is similar to the mainstream
Burmese culture but with more
Indian influence, likely due to its geographical isolation from the Burmese mainland divided by the
Arakan Mountains and its closer proximity to
India. Traces of Indian influence remain in many aspects of Arakanese culture, including its literature, music, and cuisine. The traditional Rakhine
kyin wrestling is a cherished game in their culture. Rakhine
mont di, consisting of rice vermicelli noodles, is popular dish across
Myanmar.
Religion Almost all Rakhine people are followers of Theravada Buddhism. Rakhine State is home to many Buddhist templee. Rakhine residing in Bangladesh, mainly in the Cox's bazar and Barishal area also follows Buddhism. The ancient Rakhines were traditionally sun and moon worshippers, but with the emergence of Buddhism, they gradually embraced the faith. It is believed that the Rakhine king
Sanda Thuriya adopted Buddhism between 580 and 520 BCE.
Festivals Sangrai festival Sangrai is one of the main traditional ceremonies of the Marmas and Rakhines in which they celebrate the New Year with their own rules. In the case of the Marmas, it is celebrated according to their
Burmese calendar. The main attraction of Sangrai is the water sport called Marmara "Ri Long Poye". This
water sports festival is held on the last day of Sangrai festival. Sangrai water sports are performed not only by the Marmas, but also by the Dai tribes of Southeast Asia,
Myanmar,
Thailand,
Laos,
Cambodia and
China in mid-April. In Myanmar, such events are called "Thingyan" and in Thailand and Laos this ceremony is called "Sankran". "Sankran" in Thai means change. Sangrai actually means saying goodbye to the old year and welcoming the new year. At the same time, the new
Jhum farming season in the
Chittagong Hill Tracts begins after Sangrai. Not only Jhum farming, the Marmaras do not get married again after the
Maghi full moon until Sangrai, which means that the Marmaras in Sangrai mean to start anew by throwing away all the old things, including the beginning of the new year. And so the Marmaras celebrate the New Year with a joyous ceremony in the hope of blessings and good wishes.
Buddha Purnima The Rakhine People also observe the
Buddha Purnima (
Vesak). It is also known as the Buddha's Birthday worldwide. This is the anniversary of three important events in Buddha's life—his birth, his attainment of
enlightenment, and his death. It is observed on the full moon day of the month of
Vaisakha (usually in May).
Pavarana Purnima Pavarana is a Buddhist
holy day which is also celebrated by the Rakhine people on Aashvin
full moon of the
lunar month. This usually occurs on the full moon of the 11th month. It marks the end of the three lunar months of
Vassa, sometimes called "Buddhist Lent." The day is marked in some Asian countries where
Theravada Buddhism is practiced. On this day at night, lanterns are blown into the sky to honor the heritage of
Gautam Buddha.
Flag The
Rakhine flag features two colors, white and red, with the Shrivatsa symbol placed at the center on a blue circular background. The
Shrivatsa symbol at the centre is the symbol of
Rakhine State and its people.
Foods Rakhine cuisine is known for its bold, flavorful dishes that often feature seafood, reflecting the coastal nature of the Rakhine State. Traditional dishes like
Mont di, a spicy rice noodle soup with fish broth, and Rakhine Moti, a pungent noodle soup, are staples that highlight the region's love for bold, savory tastes. The cuisine also features a variety of seafood, including prawns, crab, and fish, often prepared in flavorful curries or grilled to perfection. Another notable dish is Rakhine Moat Te Thoat, a refreshing salad made with rice vermicelli, fish cake, and fried beans. Rakhine food is distinguished by its emphasis on spiciness, sourness, and the use of locally sourced ingredients.
Calendar The
Rakhine calendar is a traditional variant of the Burmese lunisolar calendar. It was launched by King Thuriya Thehta of the
Dhanyawadi Kingdom. The Arakanese calendar mainly uses the older Makaranta system. In this system, intercalary months are regulated by the Metonic cycle of 19 years, as propounded by the Hindu astronomer Raja-Mathan. Notably, in great leap years, the Arakanese calendar adds an extra intercalary day to the month of Tagu, unlike the Burmese calendar, which adds it to Nayon. It is also used by the
Chakma and
Marma ethnic of Bangladesh.
Sports Rakhine traditional sports are deeply rooted in the region's cultural heritage, with wrestling and boat racing being particularly prominent. Among the prominent sports is
Kyin Wrestling, known locally as "Kyin," is a traditional form of wrestling which is significant cultural practice among the Rakhine people. Competitions are often held during major events, such as Rakhine State Day, and feature participants engaging in a display of warming-up dances called "kyin kwin" before the matches commence. The rules are straightforward: no punching, no touching the face, and no attacks below the belt. The winner is determined by throwing the opponent to the ground a set number of times. in
Mrauk-U Another popular traditional sport is
boat racing. Boat races are a cherished tradition in Rakhine, typically held during the monsoon season when the tides are favorable. The practice dates back to the reign of
former Rakhine kings and continues to be celebrated annually. During the Burmese month of
Tabodwe, the Rakhines hold tug-of-war ceremonies called yatha hswe pwe (ရထားဆွဲပွဲ).
Clothing The traditional attire of Rakhines are very much likely similar to Burmese people with a very minor difference. Men wear woven
longyis, collarless shirts, traditional jackets and
Gaungbaung. Women wear Blouses,
Htaingmathein jacket and as well as longyi but in a different pattern such as of
Acheik.
Wedding The Rakhines celebrate their wedding ceremony which is referred as thamet tet pwe (meaning "ceremony of the son-in-law's ascent"). During the event, the groom wears a taungshay paso and
gaung baung, while the bride is dressed in an outfit featuring a
htaingmathein jacket adorned with celestial beings, birds and a lion. A wedding table is prepared with paddy seeds and silver coins sprinkled across it, symbolizing prosperity and fertility. The couple then wears ceremonial wedding headdresses (ဦးသျှောင်). A sacred thread is wrapped around the wedding table multiple times. The couple offers morsels of food to their parents before removing their headdresses. The groom places his headdress on the bride's head, formalizing the wedding.
Dance The oil lamp dance (ဆီမီးကွက်အက) is a notable Rakhine dance performance in which a lighted wick of cotton, soaked in oil and placed in an earthenware saucer, serves as the centerpiece. The dance is known to have originated during the
Dhanyawadi Dynasty. The oil lamp dance is incorporated into many of their cultural performances, primarily as an expression of devotion to the Buddha. Initially presented as a sacred offering to the Buddha, the traditional oil lamp is sometimes also frequently replaced with a candle. The Shin Daing dance is also another significant cultural dance of the Rakhine heritage. ==Language==