Language and script Tanchangyas people primarily speak Tanchangya language. The language category is debateble. According to Rupak Debnath Tanchangya retains several features of Tibeto-Burman. Tanchangya people have their own script The Tanchangya language is a mixture of Pali, Sanskrit, Prakrit, Chakma and Bengali, with some English words incorporated. In
Arakanese language, "Taung" or "Tong" means 'hill', while "Taungya" refers to hilltop swidden cultivation, commonly known as
jhum. Therefore, "Tanchangya" translates to "hill swidden farmer."
Religion Tanchangya people are Buddhists and observe religious rites such as worshipping
Gautama Buddha and listening to Buddha sermons. Tanchangyas also maintains the
kathino chivar dan,
Buddha Purnima,
maghi purnima etc. They have at least one Buddhist vihara in their localities.
Dress and ornaments Traditionally, a Tanchangya woman wears colorful dresses and ornaments. The full dress of a Tanchangya woman is collectively known as "Paiet Kapor", which literally translates to "five parts." These five parts are • (1) "Pinon", which is in seven colors with stripes • (2) "Phadhuri", which is used as a belt • (3) "Mada-kobong" which is worn on the head • (4) "Khadi", which is used as a scarf, • (5) "Shalom", which is a blouse. Tanchangya women also wear various ornaments. These include "Rajjur & Jhanga" for the ears, "Baghor & Kuchikharu" for the wrists, "Tajjur" for the arms, "Chandrahar, Hochuli, and Sikchara" for the neck. These ornaments are made mainly of silver. Tanchangya men traditionally wear a loincloth and long-sleeved shirts.
Musical instruments Some of the Tanchangya musical instruments include the Bashi (flute), Kengkrong, Chobuk, and duduk
Occupation Agriculture is the main occupation of the Tanchangyas. Even today most Tanchangyas do
jhum cultivation. They cultivate paddy, ginger, garlic,
bagurpada (e.g.coriander), etc. on hill slopes. Literacy among Tanchangyas is low. A few of them serve in government and non-government organizations. Today, Tanchangya is a developing ethnic community on the international level. Nowadays, many Tanchangyas are service people and professionals such as doctors, engineers, lawyers, teachers, etc. They also are trying hard to become retail traders.
Traditions Tanchangyas celebrate 'Bishu' as a main enjoyable festival at the end and beginning of the new year. "Pachon" is a special item for Bishu. "Pachon" is a mixed vegetable with dried fish etc. Nowadays "Bishu mela" is organized in Tanchangyas localities. "Ghila kala", "Nahdeng kala", and "Gudhu kala" are the Tanchangyas Traditional sports. Upon the death of an individual, the body is bathed and covered with a white cloth. People pray for the departed soul in the presence of monks. The eldest son or a close relative of the deceased then shifts the body to the funeral pyre. The next day, they collect the burnt bones in a pot and cover them with a piece of cloth. Then they throw the burnt bones into a river. The male children of a deceased Tanchangya father divide the property equally among themselves. The daughters cannot claim any share of the property except when they have no brothers. If the deceased father has no children, an adopted son inherits all the property. If a wife is separated when she is pregnant and if she gives birth to a male child, he will inherit her ex-husband's property. If someone dies as a bachelor or without any children, his property will go to his brothers. ==References==