Raj Punnah, the biggest colourful traditional festival of the Bohmong Circle, will begin here on December 21.

17th Bohmong Circle Chief Engineer U Chaw Prue announced the programme at a press conference in the town yesterday.

On the opening day, Bohmong Raja will collect taxes from the headmen of 109 mouzas and around 1261 karbaris under the Bohmong circle.

People belonging to Bohmong Circle also bring different kinds of traditional gifts for the king during the festival.

A traditional fair will be held at the historic Rajar Math in the town during the three-day Raj Punnah.

Tourists from home and abroad will gather in Bandarban to celebrate the programme.

Royal family sources said the Bohmong dynasty has been celebrating the Raj Punnah festival in Bandarban since 1875 to collect jhum taxes.