Murung Festival is a festival of the Apatani Tribe of Lower Subansiri district in Arunachal Pradesh. It is a socio-religious festival of the Apatani community which is observed by a family when it is affected by some misfortune. This festival is celebrated every year in the month of January or "Murung Piilo" of Apatani calendar. It is mainly observed to pray for more wealth and richness and to keep all the family members healthy. Although this is an individual family festival, the entire Apatani as well as others are also openly invited to take part with a liberty to eat and drink and enjoy freely. It is being celebrated for the well being of the individual family members alone, specially with a hope to be blessed with more wealth and prosperity for that individual family member.
Preparation of Murung Festival
"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. Puja materials including leaves, 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.
Main Events of Murung Festival
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.
Celebration of Murung Festival
Murung Festival is celebrated with full punch. The people invite all their relatives and friends to participate in the ceremony. During Murung Festival, the each member of the family prays for his or her health and also that he or she should be blessed with wealth and richness in the coming year. The festival involves music and dance, people enjoy amidst the fervour all around. There is no restriction on the eating and drinking of the people. Murung Festival has the celebrations to bring to light the cultural values, living style and traditions of the Apatani Tribe. The Apatani Tribal people wear their traditional clothes in their style.
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