Murung
Encyclopedia
Murung is the Festival of Prosperity, celebrated by the Apatani
s of Lower Subansiri
district in Arunachal Pradesh
, India
. Though an individual festival, whole villages and indeed the whole of the Apatani people get involved in the festival. It is celebrated in the Month of January or Murung piilo. Besides it the Apatanis also celebrate Myoko in the month of march and the Dree Festival
from 4 to 7 July every year.
By the onset of winter relatives and neighbours collect firewood. materials including leaves and canes and bamboo are Collected a few days before beginning of main event. Mithuns and cows are tethered at house yard.
The next step is selection of sacrificial animals after examination of chicken liver by the priest one day before the festival. It is followed by preparation of Subu-sa (cane rope) on the eve of the festival. Firewood stocked and dried in fields is shifted to the house. Soon after, rice beer prepared by clan-members is brought to Lapang is served to guests. During the day relatives and neighbours visit the family on the day. The priest chants narratives and prays for success of the festival. He also performs omen to decide persons to sacrifice animals in the festival.
Khiinii, 12) Lemba Ronii (Rugu Nii), 13) Pukun Apin Honii, 14) Alyi Pachu Konii, 15) Dokho Ranii, 16) Dulu Panii, 17) Pingko Yo Khenii, 18) Penii Inii (Pelin Nii or Liling Nii), 19) Koter Chinii, 20) Dulu IIsan Lyoka siinii, 21) Dulu Koda Giinii, 22) Penii Inii Aping og Dulu Aping, 23) Nembu Anii (Hiirii Khanii), 24) Siibo Pahinii, 25) Tamu Lanii, 26) Ereh Pukung Nii, 27) Ude Tinii, 28) Nyibu Punii, 29) Konchi Aji Eya Nii, 30) More Bije Eya, 31) Allo Aji Eya Nii, 32) Empi Konii
Early in the morning all animals are brought to Lapang where the priest chants prayer before sacrifice. Relatives attend the sacrificial ritual conducted at Lapang. Men decorate the animals with bamboo shaving materials and rice paste and rice beer. Assisted by a few helpers, chickens numbering same of mithuns are also sacrificed with chanting of narratives.
On the second day relatives and neighbours contribute rice, cash, meat, millet among other items while the hosts entertain them with meat and drinks.
Apatani
The Apatani, or Tanii, are a tribal group of people living in the Ziro valley in the Lower Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh India. However more Apatanis live outside this valley, making the total population approximately 26,000 all over the state...
s of Lower Subansiri
Lower Subansiri
Lower Subansiri district is one of the 16 administrative districts of the state of Arunachal Pradesh in northeastern India.-History:The district was formed when Subansiri district was bifurcated into Upper and Lower Subansiri districts in 1987...
district in Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh is a state of India, located in the far northeast. It borders the states of Assam and Nagaland to the south, and shares international borders with Burma in the east, Bhutan in the west, and the People's Republic of China in the north. The majority of the territory is claimed by...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Though an individual festival, whole villages and indeed the whole of the Apatani people get involved in the festival. It is celebrated in the Month of January or Murung piilo. Besides it the Apatanis also celebrate Myoko in the month of march and the Dree Festival
Dree Festival
The Dree Festival is an Apatani agricultural rite. It involves the sacrifice of fowls, eggs and animals to the Gods - Tamu, Metii and Danyi Pilo. The purpose of the festival is to appease these Gods so that famine could be avoided. This rite is observed by the Apatanis in Arunachal Pradesh, India...
from 4 to 7 July every year.
Preparation
Pahin Konin (egg-examination) by a priest is the first step to performing of Muruing. It is followed by preparation of a special dish, known as Kaji, which is offered to the patient and relatives. If the patient recovers after it, Murung is performed; otherwise it is ignored.By the onset of winter relatives and neighbours collect firewood. materials including leaves and canes and bamboo are Collected a few days before beginning of main event. Mithuns and cows are tethered at house yard.
The next step is selection of sacrificial animals after examination of chicken liver by the priest one day before the festival. It is followed by preparation of Subu-sa (cane rope) on the eve of the festival. Firewood stocked and dried in fields is shifted to the house. Soon after, rice beer prepared by clan-members is brought to Lapang is served to guests. During the day relatives and neighbours visit the family on the day. The priest chants narratives and prays for success of the festival. He also performs omen to decide persons to sacrifice animals in the festival.
Preparatory events
- Pahin Khonii
- Kaji Diiho Nii
- Yassang Panii
- Yanii-Yasso Lanii, 5) Subu-Sii Bokhung Nii, 6) Anii Khonii, 7) Sha Khiinii, 8) Yasang Banii, 9) Lapang O’ Miinii, 10) Yatang Hunii, 11) Lapang O’ Tanii 12) Atting-Allang Khonii.
Main events of Murung
1) Talinii/Subu Hinii, 2) Embin Siiding Harnii, 3) Siikha Ranii/Yugyang Tanii, 4)Mida Inii, 5) Supung Nii, 6) Pachu Kohnii, 7) Subu-Sii Paniing, 8) Pukung Nii, 9) Embin Yakhang Binii, 10) Yorda Ayu Nii, 11) IIro O’Khiinii, 12) Lemba Ronii (Rugu Nii), 13) Pukun Apin Honii, 14) Alyi Pachu Konii, 15) Dokho Ranii, 16) Dulu Panii, 17) Pingko Yo Khenii, 18) Penii Inii (Pelin Nii or Liling Nii), 19) Koter Chinii, 20) Dulu IIsan Lyoka siinii, 21) Dulu Koda Giinii, 22) Penii Inii Aping og Dulu Aping, 23) Nembu Anii (Hiirii Khanii), 24) Siibo Pahinii, 25) Tamu Lanii, 26) Ereh Pukung Nii, 27) Ude Tinii, 28) Nyibu Punii, 29) Konchi Aji Eya Nii, 30) More Bije Eya, 31) Allo Aji Eya Nii, 32) Empi Konii
Early in the morning all animals are brought to Lapang where the priest chants prayer before sacrifice. Relatives attend the sacrificial ritual conducted at Lapang. Men decorate the animals with bamboo shaving materials and rice paste and rice beer. Assisted by a few helpers, chickens numbering same of mithuns are also sacrificed with chanting of narratives.
On the second day relatives and neighbours contribute rice, cash, meat, millet among other items while the hosts entertain them with meat and drinks.