Khiyang is the eighth majority among the 11 indigenous peoples living in Chittagong. Indigenous Khiyang society originally belonged to the Tibetan-Chinese group in the Kuki- Chinese-speaking Southern Kuki-Chinese .
Khiyang people live in Rajsthali and Kaptai upazila of Rangamati hill district and Bandarban Sadar, Ruma, Thanchi and Roangchhari upazilas. The population of Khyang, according to their own survey, is about three thousand six hundred, and the number of families is more than seven hundred.
The Khiyang people are mainly divided into two groups. Such as Kontu and Laitu. Those who lives in the mountains are called Kontu and those who lives in the plains are called Laitu.There are also some linguistic differences between the two groups. Besides the two group they divide into 12 sub-groups.
As new land or hills are required for the jum cultivation, the Kontu groups people builds floating settlements for their livelihood .
In Khiyang society, a pregnant woman is kept in a specific room in her family. No man other than her husband of a pregnant woman can enter the room and there is no restrictions for women.If the newly born baby is girl, the mother would need to make herself warm with fire for 5 days and if it's a boy then it would be for 6 days.
In the past, Khiyang were nature worshipers. They called their creator ‘Hnadaga’. Later they were initiated into Buddhism. However, they are also seen worshiping their original gods and goddesse. Recently many of them have embraced Christianity.
The biggest religious festival of Khyang is 'Sanglan'. The festival begins with the worship of Gautam Buddha.
The peace-loving Khiyang build their village on open hilltops and near streams or fountains. They call the house 'Eem'.
khiyang males wear short dress called 'Lengti' and shirt tailored by themselves. They also use ear-ring and bungles made of silver. KhI yang women wear thami. Their attire clothes woven by khiyang women's. They also like to dress up themselves with variety of ornaments.
The Khiyang society is patriarchal. Their society has a leader called Karbari. The village karbari judges a person involved in injustice or crime according to their own custom.
Written by Athina Chakma
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