Chakma Traditional Genguli Song by Chakma Buddhist monks / Ven. Bodhipal Bhante

Genguli is the oldest Chakma traditional folk music that sung by religious priests, folk singers, and old history reciters from village to village. Chakma people used to practice Tantrayana Buddhism before 17th century until Chakma queen Kalindi Rani invited ven. Saramedha Bhikkhu to embrace Theravada Buddhism from Arakan, Myanmar. Before Chakma people perform their Buddhist rites and rituals by local Tantrayana Mahayana priests who were known as 'Luri". Luri priests are the ones who preserved Chakma ancient scripts and Chakma literature on Palm Leaves. But now they are nearly extincted due to influence of popularity of Theravada Buddhism. But there are many Luri monks who are practice their rites and rituals in rural village temples where no Theravada monks are available. Unlike Theravada monks, these Luri priests do everything themselves for living while Theravada monks always depends on their followers for surviving.