The Murongs observed a Festival and puja called Kumlang (Rui Yang Krey-as Murong Term), in which they ceremonially kill a cow on the 19th and 20th of March in Tongkaboti Union, Bandarban.
The young men and women dance to music, made by bamboo organs, sing, eat and drink homemade beer during this ceremony. This Festival is also known as Gohatta or the cow killing Festival. Murongs kill the cow by piercing the its skin with a stake.
The event began on the evening of 19 March and closed on the morning of 20 March while the group of young men killed cows the whole night the Murong people enjoyed this festival.Thousands of Murong people join this festival from different Murong villages of the Bandarban Chittagong Hill Tracts.
State Minister Advocate Promode Mankin and other government officials attended the festival.
Murongs are one of the famous tribes of aborigines of Arakan and two Murong Kings ruled Arakan in the 10th century AD. Murongs live in Lama, Ruma, Alikadam and Thanchi upazilas near Chimbuk Mountain of Bandarban district.
In 1991, the Murong population in Bangladesh was 22,178 and constituted the fourth largest tribe in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Murongs are patriarchal and they have different clans and many sub-clans.
Murongs do not marry within the same clan or sub-clan. Their boys and girls are also not allowed to marry within two different clans involved in war even after they enter into a truce or peace agreement and become friends. Murongs have many different ways of performing the marriage ceremony but the ceremony is usually very short. Once a couple is ready for marriage, a cock is slaughtered in the presence of the couple. When the blood gushes from the veins, someone dips the middle finger and anoints the forehead of the bride and groom. Then follows the declaration that the two are husband and wife. After this brief ceremony, the bride and groom eat together and the invitees and guests sprinkle water and rice to bless the couple.
Most Murongs are Buddhists and some are Christian converts. In general, however, they are still animists and they worship nature. They revere Thurai as the creator of this universe. All their pujas are directed to Oreng, the God of the household and day-to-day business affairs. They have many superstitions. They believe in signs and omens and their immediate undertakings are affected by these beliefs.
Sungteung is another deity Murongs pay homage to, although this puja has little importance in society. Before the harvest, the Murongs observe a puja called Kumlang, in which they ceremonially kill a cow. The young men and women dance, sing, eat and drink homemade beer during this ceremony.
The main profession of the Murongs is jhum cultivation and lumbering wood from the jungle. Before jhum cultivation in the month of Srabon they offer Oreng puja. The women work harder than the men. They have a distinct language but no written script.
Murongs love songs and dances. They use homemade musical instruments, which are made of bamboo. The flute is the dominant instrument. Rice and homemade beer are their main food and drink. They eat the tiger, dog, goat, pig, cow and many other animals. Their delicacy is nappi, made of the fermented fat of fish, frog, deer or boar, mixed with fermented rice.
Murong men wear length and women wear wanglai (short skirt). These are all locally made. Murongs build houses on machangs (platforms) on hilltops.
Murongs burn the bodies of the dead. Murong tribesmen do not mourn when someone dies. This is because they believe that mourning will hurt the soul of the deceased instead, they indulge in dances and songs and make merry. They also exhibit the articles used by the deceased and keep these beside the dead body because they believe that the deceased persons will use these in the after life.
