Murong, The a tribe of Bangladesh. Murongs are one of the famous aborigines of arakan and the two Murong kings, who ruled Arakan in the tenth century, were A-mya-thu (957) and Pai-phyu (964). At that time Wathaly was the capital city of Arakan.

Historical Background:

Murongs had a bloody war with the khumis on the bank of the Koladain. The Khumi tribe defeated the Murongs and ousted them from Arakan. Murongs moved to chittagong hill tracts sometime between the 17th and 18th centuries. Many, however, believe that this happened in the 14th century. Murongs now 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 Chittagong Hill Tracts.

Social System:

Family Structure: Murongs are patriarchal. Sons inherit the property. They have different clans and many sub-clans. According to one source, the five major clans are Dengua, Premsang, Kongloi, Maizer and Ganaroo Gnar. Others mention the ten different Murong clans as Yarua, Yaringcha, Tang, Deng, Kough, Tam-tu-chah, Kanbak, Prenju, Naichah and Yomore. The Yarua is said to be the most influential and powerful among the Murong clans. It has four subdivisions and they are Khatpo, Chimlung, Zongnow, and Chawla. These sub-clans are also considered by some as independent clans.

Social Structure: 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 when they enter into truce or peace agreement and become friends, since in such situation, they become brothers in practice and therefore, their children can not marry each other. Murongs have many different ways of performing marriage ceremony but the ceremony is usually very short. Once a couple is selected for marriage, they slaughter a cock in presence of the couple. When the blood gushes from the vein, someone dips his middle finger and anoints the forehead of the bride and groom. Then follows the declaration that they 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. Divorce is allowed in the Murong society. But the husband can not divorce his wife without a legitimate cause. If a man divorces his wife without any cause, he will be left alone in a deep jungle only with an axe to defend himself from wild animals. A widow may marry but the remarriage is allowed only with a plebian. Bigamy or polygamy is not socially allowed.

Rituals: Most Murongs are Buddhists and some are converted Christians. 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 household and day-to-day business. 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 the 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, and eat, and drink homemade bear during this ceremony.

Lifestyle: The main profession of the Murongs is jhum cultivation and lumbering wood from jungle. Before jhum cultivation in the month of Srabon they offer Oreng puja. The women work harder than the men. They have a language but no written script. Murongs love songs and dances. They use homemade musical instruments, which are made of bamboo. Flute is the dominant instrument. Their dances have four classes: Plees Pleesing, Chat Chet Plee, Dengram Tek Plee, and Rowlata Ting Plee. They dance in a group of 10 to 12 unmarried boys and girls with jingling anklets tied around their feet. Gong is their main instrument in dancing. Rice and homemade bear are their main food and drink. They eat tiger, dog, goat, pig, cow and many other animals. Their delicacy is nappi made of fermented fat of fish, frog, deer or boar, mixed with fermented rice. Murong men wear lengti and women wear wanglai (short skirt). These are all locally made. Murongs build houses on machangs (platforms) on the top of the hills. Their houses are bigger than the houses of other tribes. Murongs burn the bodies of the dead. [Selmon H Dio]