Rohingya Rosomor Hota (The Rohingya Cultural Show)
Cox’s Bazar, 17 November 2024: The Rohingya Cultural Memory Centre (RCMC) hosted a remarkable event, “Rohingya Rosomor Hota” (The Rohingya Cultural Show), a vibrant celebration of Rohingya cultural heritage aimed at bringing the community together to honour and revive their unique traditions. This dynamic event served as a powerful platform to showcase and preserve the rich cultural expressions of the Rohingya people while fostering a sense of unity and psychosocial wellbeing.
The event featured a variety of activities that reflected the diverse cultural elements integral to Rohingya identity:
Musical Performances: Soulful melodies and traditional Rohingya songs filled the air, echoing the community's deep-rooted musical heritage.
Live Art and Calligraphy: Artists demonstrated the beauty of Rohingya art, including intricate calligraphy in the Rohingya Hanafi script, providing a visual narrative of their history and traditions.
Pottery and Fishing Culture: Skilled artisans recreated the craftsmanship and practices of daily life, offering attendees a glimpse into the traditional pottery-making techniques and fishing methods that have sustained the community for generations.
Sewing Sessions: Skilled female artisans showcased their sewing and embroidery skills, emphasizing the resilience and creativity of the Rohingya people, who have used such crafts not only as a livelihood but also as a medium of artistic expression.
This inclusive event was more than a celebration of culture. It was a healing space that encouraged conversations, strengthened community ties, and provided a sense of belonging. It underscored the importance of preserving the Rohingya's cultural heritage in the face of displacement and adversity, while also highlighting how cultural activities can contribute to mental health and psychosocial support.
Through events like “Rohingya Rosomor Hota,” the RCMC remains committed to safeguarding the invaluable legacy of the Rohingya people and ensuring their voices and stories continue to be heard, celebrated, and cherished for generations to come.
Through this event, we reached 178 Rohingya participants, including 47 females and 131 males. Participants provided heartfelt feedback, highlighting the emotional and cultural significance of the event:
Healed, a 36-year-old resident of Camp 03, expressed heartfelt gratitude to IOM-RCMC for their efforts in preserving Rohingya cultural heritage, particularly through the recent pilot initiative on Hanifi calligraphy. He emphasized the importance of creating further educational opportunities for the younger generation to ensure their success.
Similarly, Anuwar Hussain, a youth from Camp 09, appreciated the event's role in showcasing the richness of Rohingya cultural heritage and recommended continued support and acknowledgment of the community's contributions.
Saiful Islam, a youth from Camp 18, echoed these sentiments, urging IOM-RCMC to provide education on the Hanifi script and to establish learning centers akin to those offering the Myanmar curriculum, fostering greater access to cultural and educational resources for the Rohingya community.