Salung people and culture

  

         The Salung are an ethnic group living in the Myeik Archipelago in southern Myanmar’s Tanintharyi Division. Described as Sea Gypsies, they are known for their unique diving skills. Culture, Food They have their own customs. At present, there are only 2,000 people left and they have migrated to Thailand for some reason.

They are of Austronesian descent and are also called mawkin (moken). The reason why it is described as Sea Gypsy is that it lives on boats. The Salung people are also an honest ethnic group. Scholars refer to the Salung people as Mon-Khmer. They are also considered to be of Malay descent.

One of the unique features of the Salungs is swimming and diving. They are very good divers. They are diving and looking for camels and snails. They fish underwater with long fishing rods. They can dive for a maximum of 20 minutes. No one can compare with them in pearl diving. They make a living by selling seafood, pearls, and other local products. They are also skilled at beekeeping and finding sea urchins, bird nests, and Kanukamar.

Deity, Demons are worshiped and the spiritual master is very important. The spirits are important all things including in marriage and death.

At weddings, the Salung people believe that a couple can be successful only if they worship the deity and the traditional deity.

If a Salung man likes a woman, he has to ask the woman’s parents together with the man’s two parents and the elder. If the woman accepts, a date is set. They prepare food in consultation with the spiritual master.

At the wedding, the four hands of the bride and groom are put together and covered with the two hands of the spiritual master on it, claiming the Deity that would take care of the couple for life and provide health and employment assistance. The bride and groom are also promised eternal marriage, raising their hands to the traditional deity.

At parties, people often light a fire and dance. The festival of ghosts is celebrated every year and traditional deities and to the dead are offered. Then they played instruments and danced.

Their traditional food is usually seafood such as fish, squid, and crab. Bats are also eaten. Chickens’ intestines are also cooked.

Salung people live simple life. Now their way of life away from the city is slowly improving. It is important to note that the government should provide assistance to the Salung people as they are a symbol of Myanmar.

Excerpt: It’s written by young people who are not historians, so the information may have been left behind. Feel free to point out any topics you would like to add.

(Traditional culture and customs in Tanintharyi region)

Author: Lewis Kid

Translator- Hana M