Events commemorating the 237th anniversary of the fall of the Arakan Kingdom were held at Pyin Chaung village in Myebon Township, Arakan State, on January 30 and 31.

U Kyaw Zan, an adviser to the organising committee, told DMG that the commemorations were intended to build unity among the people and to reshape the future of Arakan by learning lessons from the past.

“It has been 237 years of Arakan sovereignty’s failure. The Arakanese king was arrested [237 years ago] today [the new moon day of Pyartho]. That’s why we are holding this ceremony, to remember sad memories of our country,” he said.

“The end of Arakan sovereignty is marked on December 31, but the day the Arakan king was arrested is on the new moon day of Pyartho,” U Kyaw Zan explained.

A ceremony marking the occasion was attended by about 400 people from various townships. Arakan history and literature talks, and traditional Arakan cultural dances, were included in the event.

The town market in Mrauk-U was closed on January 31 in sombre remembrance of the fall of the Arakan Kingdom.

“We did it of our own accord, to mark the fall of the Arakan Kingdom. In previous years, lantern-lighting ceremonies and literature talks were included in the event. This year, we just closed the market,” said the administrator of Mrauk-U’s Myoma ward, U Aung Thein.

The Arakan Kingdom was overthrown by the Burmese King Bodawpaya in 1784.