Mrucha Chiasodpoi
Mru Festival of Sacrifice
As Manle leads a dying tradition to save his child from illness, we enter the heart of the Mru festival of sacrifice, where music and ritual converge in a profound act of devotion.
The Mru People
Who Are the Mru?
The Mru people are one of the oldest Indigenous communities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of southeastern Bangladesh, with smaller populations in the adjoining borderlands of Myanmar and India. They are part of the larger Chin ethnic group and are known for their unique cultural and spiritual traditions. The Mru refer to themselves as ‘Mrucha’, meaning “human” in their language, emphasizing their deep connection to their ancestral lands and identity.
Primarily agrarian, the Mru practice ‘jhum’ (shifting) cultivation, a traditional method of farming suited to the hilly terrain they inhabit. Their economy and lifestyle are deeply tied to the forests and hills, reflecting a symbiotic relationship with their natural environment. However, these practices are increasingly threatened by deforestation and external pressures to modernize.
The Plung: A Musical and Spiritual Instrument
The ‘Plung’ is a bamboo flute central to Mru identity, spirituality, and communal life. Made from carefully selected bamboo, each ‘Plung’ is unique, varying in size, shape, and tone based on the craftsmanship and style of the maker. It is not merely a musical instrument but a personal and communal voice for the Mru, with each player infusing their character into its melodies.
The ‘Plung’ is often used in ceremonial battles, where musicians from different villages compete by performing intricate, improvisational melodies. These battles are not adversarial but celebratory, showcasing the individual styles and technical skills of the players while reinforcing community bonds. In spiritual contexts, the ‘Plung’ serves as a conduit for prayer and ritual, its sound is believed to connect the Mru with their ancestors and spiritual forces.
The making of a ‘Plung’ is itself a sacred process. Craftsmen carefully select bamboo based on its age, density, and resonance, and the instrument is tuned to suit the tonal range of the player. The craftsmanship, combined with the performer’s skill, ensures that no two ‘Plungs’ sound alike, embodying the individuality and artistry of the Mru people.
Chiasodpoi: The Festival of Sacrifice
The ‘Chiasodpoi’, or Festival of Sacrifice, is one of the most profound expressions of Mru spirituality and culture. This ritualistic festival, traditionally performed during times of hardship such as epidemics or to appease spiritual forces, is deeply rooted in the animistic beliefs of the Mru. It is both a spiritual offering and a celebration of life, community, and the harvest season.
The multi-day festival includes intricate rituals centered around the sacrificial offering of a cow. Participants encircle the sacrificial animal within a bamboo enclosure, dancing to the resonant melodies of the ‘Plung’. This ritual symbolizes the offering of sustenance to the spiritual realm in exchange for blessings, health, and prosperity. The event culminates in the sacrifice itself, a moment of both reverence and renewal for the community.
‘Chiasodpoi’ reflects the Mru’s close ties to nature and their understanding of life as a cycle of giving and receiving. The ritual reinforces communal solidarity and serves as a living repository of Mru traditions, passed down orally and through practice.
The Mru Language: An Endangered Heritage
The Mru language is an essential marker of their identity, encapsulating their worldview, traditions, and oral history. Historically, the language was exclusively oral, but the development of a written script in the 1980s by Manley Mro, a cultural leader, marked a significant milestone in preserving their linguistic heritage. The script, however, remains underutilized, and younger generations increasingly shift to dominant regional languages like Bengali for economic and social mobility.
This linguistic shift places the Mru language at risk of erasure, threatening the continuity of their cultural identity. The loss of language would not only silence a unique voice in the world’s cultural diversity but also sever the link to centuries of accumulated knowledge and traditions encoded in their speech.
Challenges in the Chittagong Hill Tracts
The Mru, like other Indigenous groups in the CHT, face systemic challenges stemming from rapid modernization, militarization, and socio-economic marginalization. Land dispossession, deforestation, and the encroachment of mainstream cultural and economic practices have disrupted their traditional way of life. The militarization of the region has further exacerbated their vulnerability, limiting access to necessities such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
Despite these challenges, the Mru continue to resist cultural assimilation, striving to preserve their heritage through music, rituals, and communal life. Documenting and promoting their traditions, as this project aims to do, is a critical step toward raising awareness about their struggles and celebrating their contributions to the cultural tapestry of Bangladesh.
Why Preserve Mru Heritage?
The traditions of the Mru people, including their music, language, and rituals, represent a unique and irreplaceable aspect of human culture. As globalization and modernization threaten Indigenous practices worldwide, efforts to document and celebrate such traditions become vital. The Mru’s story is not only a testament to their resilience but also a reminder of the richness and diversity that Indigenous cultures bring to the global community.
By preserving and sharing the Mru’s heritage, we can foster greater understanding, respect, and support for their way of life, ensuring that their voices continue to resonate through the hills of the Chittagong Hill Tracts and beyond.