|
The Chakmas have a system of clans called goja. The gojas are
named after the leaders or places of habitation. Some of the important
gojas are Dhurya goja or Boga goja which consists of the descendants of
the chief
Dhurya Kurya goja, Dhabana goja etc. Every goja has its headman who is
variously known as Dewan, Talukdar, Karbai, Khisa etc.
The Chakma society gives a place of importance to priests called Ojhas.
Women who perform the task of midwifery are also called Ojhas. There are
certain worships or pujas performed by the Chakmas. Than-Mana is
worship of the habitat. 'Bura Para' is a puja performed by individual
families to avert future danger or evil. 'Chungulang' is a puja for
welfare of the family, performed by families at intervals of two to three
years. Some other pujas among the Chakmas are: Ma Lakshmi Puja (worship
of goddess of wealth), Parameswari Puja (worship nature of goddess), Ganga
Puja (worship of river).
MARRIAGE
Chakma marriage is generally settled through negotiations. The average
age of marriage for girls are 15 to 16 and for boys, 22 to 24. There is
a system of paying bride price varying from Rs.40/- to Rs.50/- to the
father of the girl. The boy's relations go to the girls' house on a fixed day
when they are welcomed with decoration of water filled pitchers, banana
plants, lights, etc. The boys party, thereafter, gives presents to the
girls parents consisting of ornaments, clothes, etc. The bride wears
these adornments and gets the blessings of the elders. Next day, the
parents bid-good bye to the daughter. In the boy's house the bride is
received with chanting of prayers. The couple is tied together with a
new piece of cloth. Cooked rice with boiled eggs and some betel leaves
and nuts are offered to the couple. Marriages are performed with the
consent of parents.
Men are not monogamous. A man can take more than one wife, if he can
afford it. Widow remarriage is allowed. A woman, after her
husband's death, gives up wearing ornaments and colourful clothes.
Divorce is permitted in certain situations.
Inheritance among the Chakmas is only through the male line. In the
absence of sons, daughters inherit.
DEATH
On death, the body is placed in an outside room and is covered by a white cloth.
Flowers are spread over the cloth and relatives also place money on
it. The Buddhist monk chants prayers. The body is taken to a
cremation ground where it is placed in a funeral pyre of wood.
The
eldest son ignites the pyre, after circling it seven times. The
purification ceremony, 'Sraddha', takes place six days after the cremation, when
a feast is given to the monks, relations and fellow member of the society.
When a wealthy person or an aristocrat dies, a special ceremony is held.
The body is kept in a coffin which is placed in a chariot. It is pulled
with the accompaniment of drum beats, fire works etc. and assembly of a large
number of people.
There is special custom of offerings for departed souls. In this ritual
called 'bhadya', a list of dead ancestors up to three or five degrees is
prepared and small cremation pyres for them are prepared in the cremation
ground. The monks and the relations invoke the spirits of the ancestors.
|
