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The Bulang Tribe
The Bulang tribe lives in the Yunnan Province. It has a population of about eighty thousand people. At one time the Bulang's had lived with Thai Tribes, and as a result, many became practicing Buddhists. A common instrument among the Thai Tribes includes the "Elephant Foot Dram," which is used among the Bulang tribe in unique rituals. They are a boisterous group with many rituals, customs, and traditions dating back to the ancient times.
In the Bulang tribe the Charm Dance, also known as the "Bulin Aparun," is held during the month of February. The Bulang perform this ritualistic practice to remove evil spirits and protect their temples. The "Elephant Foot Dram" is played in every house or with a group of people gathered in the temples. Everyone paints their face, wears elaborate costumes, and most of all dance the night away.
In the east several thousand Bulang tribal members reside in Myanmer. Tribal members in the Yunnan Province have impacted these groups with songs, rituals, and foods. Songs such as "Suway" is one example. It is sung in expressing a tempestuous love story. Men and women in turn dance and play instruments. Women dress fashionably in wild and vibrant colors. The women also wear a variety of hairstyles, decorate themselves with beads, and wear earrings.
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