By Nava Thakuria*
Harinama Rama Festival Revived After Years in Maungdaw
After years of suspension due to conflict and instability, the Maha Ramayana Harinama Rama Akhanda Path festival has returned to western Myanmar’s Rakhine (Arakan) province, marking a rare revival of a major Hindu religious tradition in the troubled region. The four-day festival, held from January 31 to February 3, 2026, featured continuous chanting of the epic Ramayana in Maungdaw town and brought together thousands of Hindu families along with local Buddhists in sacred rituals conducted with renewed enthusiasm.
The 75th edition of the festival was organised by the Maungdaw Hindu Affairs Committee with the support of the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government, while security arrangements were provided by the Arakan Army (AA). One of the most revered religious events for Hindus in Myanmar, the festival had not been held in recent years because of armed conflict and political uncertainty. Its revival this year became possible after the Arakan Army took control of Arakan State, including Maungdaw, a strategic town on the Bangladesh border with a sizeable Rohingya Muslim population. The area has remained under AA control since December 2024.
The return of the festival comes at a time when ethnic armed groups continue their offensives against Myanmar’s ruling military junta across the Buddhist-majority country. Against this backdrop of prolonged unrest, the Harinama Rama celebration stood out as a symbolic assertion of religious continuity and community life in a region long affected by violence and displacement.
According to local Arakanese media outlets, more than 3,000 Hindus from different localities such as Buthidaung, Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw and Maungdaw participated in the religious ceremony. A considerable number of Arakan Army officials were also present during the observances. Participants were served vegetarian meals prepared from locally sourced pulses and vegetables, and free healthcare services were provided throughout the festival period by the organisers and local authorities.
The venue of the festival at Kyaukpantu mountain in the coastal area is traditionally believed to have a historical and spiritual connection with Lord Rama, Lord Lakshman and Devi Sita. This association added special significance to the gathering and reinforced its importance for the Hindu community in the region.
The primary activities of the festival included continuous recitation of the Ramayana and prayers dedicated to Lord Hanuman, the monkey god. According to traditional belief, worship offered to the son of the Wind God brings blessings that help devotees overcome difficulties and challenges in life. Organisers said the celebration was intended not only to preserve long-standing religious traditions but also to promote harmony, unity and peace among all communities living in the Arakan region of western Myanmar.
Myanmar, the eastern neighbour of India, also observes major Hindu festivals such as Diwali, Navaratri, Durga Puja and Panguni Uthiram, mainly organised by Myanmarese Tamil and Bengali communities. Despite the country’s ongoing political turmoil and armed conflict, these celebrations continue to reflect the persistence of cultural and religious diversity across different parts of the nation.
*Senior Guwahati-based journalist
