The Marma Tribe

For centuries, Bangladesh has been the dwelling place of different ethnic groups. The ethnic groups of Bangladesh and their colorful lifestyles have significantly enriched the entire culture of Bangladesh. Their historical background, economic activities, social structure, religious beliefs and festivals make them distinctive. The beauty of the hilly zones as well as the plain areas has been enhanced by the colorful culture and traditional practices of different ethnic groups.

The Marma is one of the famous ethnic groups in Bangladesh. They live in the three hill districts of Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari. Some of them, however, live in the coastal area of cox’s bazar and patuakhali. At present the total number of Marmas in Bangladesh is about 350,000 and constituted the second largest tribe in the country. They are divided into several clans. Each clan is named after the place from where it migrated.

The word Marma comes from the Burmese word Myanma, which means Burmese nationals and is pronounced as Marma by the people of the Chittagong hill tracts. The ancestors of the Marma people used to live in the Pegu city of Burma long before it was invaded in 1599 by Mahappinnagi, the commander of the Army of the king of Arakan. The people of Pegu were living in southern and central China as early as 2200 BC.

Marma belongs to the Mongoloid race. They are relatively short and have prominent cheekbones. They have yellow complexion, black hairs, small eyes, and snub noses. The language of Marma tribe is an Arakanese which is written in Burmese characters. It belongs to the Burma-Arakan group within the broad classifications of Tibet-Burma languages. In recent times, Marmas in urban areas and nearby settlements speak the corrupt local language of Chittagong.

The main profession of the Marmas is Agriculture and jhum cultivation. They also supplement their food requirement by gathering tree leaves, roots, and tubers from hill forests. Recently they become involved in trade and commerce, operate small retail stores, etc. Rice and boiled vegetables are major food items of the Marma people. Nappi a paste of dried fish is a favourite. They enjoy rice bear and smoke indigenous cigars. Marma men drink wine and play card games in leisure time.

Marma men and women typically wear sarong and blouse, but usually they do not wear shoes. Marmas make their own dresses using traditional weaving technology, although many now purchase common Bengali dresses from the market. The houses of Marma people are made of bamboo, wild grass and straw. These are built on elevated bamboo or wooden platforms. Every room of the house is a bedroom cum store. The space under the platform is used for various purposes such as keeping livestock, storing fuel wood etc. Some houses are made of mud without platform.

Marma community is predominantly led nuclear family. The husband is the head of the household, but the wife also has a significant role in the family. Their property inheritance, in general, follows the old Burmese line of inheritance. Both sons and daughters inherit parental properties follows the ratio of 2:1. The most favorite child gets the ownership of the house and has to take care of the parents.

Marriage is a very important part of the social life of Marmas. Cross cousin marriages and monogamy are predominant features of this society. Child marriage is practically forbidden. Pre-marriage love is common. Both men and women have equal rights to divorce, although the final settlement is to be made in the court of village leaders.

Marmas are Buddhists in faith. They believe that their birth, death and all activities in life take place under the influence of a supernatural power, which they try to satisfy through their rites and rituals. Animism is also in practice among them. They perform all the important Buddhist religious festivals and also various rituals and worships to satisfy different gods. Dreams have a very strong influence in decision making in their everyday life.

They follow the traditional political, administrative system in their community where village level, mouza level and the circle level is headed by a karbari, a headman and the circle chief or Raja accordingly.

The Murang Tribe

Different ethnic groups of Bangladesh and their colorful lifestyles have significantly enriched the entire culture of Bangladesh. For centuries, Bangladesh has been the dwelling place of different ethnic groups. In fact, 35 smaller groups of indigenous people covering about two percent of the total population have been living in different pockets of the hilly zones and some areas of the plane lands of the country. Their historical background, economic activities, social structure, religious beliefs and festivals make them distinctive. The beauty of the hilly zones as well as the plain areas has been enhanced by the colorful culture and traditional practices of different ethnic groups.

Murongs are one of the famous tribes of aborigines of Arakan and two Murong Kings ruled Arakan in the tenth century AD. Murong or Muren refers to an ethnic Xianbei tribe who are a Mongolic people attested from the time of Tanshihuai. Different strands of evidence exist linking the Murong to the Mongols. Murong is also a Chinese surname. The Former Yan, Western Yan, Later Yan dynasties as well as Tuyuhun were all founded by the Murong. The chieftain Murong was the first ancestor of the Murong tribe, which was named after him. He was a chieftain noble of the Middle Section during the rule of Tanshihuai. 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. Sons inherit the property. 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 follow 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. The Xianbei are generally considered speakers of Mongolic languages.

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 short skirt. These are all locally made. Murongs build houses on platforms on hilltops. Their houses are bigger than the houses of other tribes. 

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 afterlife.