Festivals
in the Garo Hills
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Wangala Wangala
or Dance of Hundred Drum festival is an important
event of the Garos. This festival marks the end
of a period of toil, heralding a yield of good
harvest. It is performed in honour of 'Satyong',
the God of fertility. People, young and old dressed
in their in their colourful costumes and feathered
head dress, dance to the beat of long cylindrical
drums. Held annually in November, the festival
may last for a week. |
Doregata Dance Doregata
Dance festival is another interesting dance where ,
while dancing the women try to knock off the turbans
of their male partner using their head. If the women
succeed, it is followed by peals of laughter.
Chambil mesara or Pomelo Dance
The Chambil mesara or Pomelo Dance is a solo dance-form
which requires skill. The performer dangles a pomelo
on a cord tied to his waist and then hurls it around
without any perceptible movement of the hips. Expert
dancers can hurl two separate fruits hung on a cord.
Festivals in the Khasi Hills
Nongkrem Dance
Nongkrem Dance is a religious festival in thanksgiving
to God Almighty for good harvest, peace and prosperity
of the community. It is held annually during October/
November, at Smit, the capital of the Khyrim Syiemship
near Shillong.
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The dance is performed in the open
by young virgins and men, both bachelors and married.
The women dressed in expensive silk costumes with
heavy gold, silver and coral ornaments dance in
the inner circle of the arena. The men form an
outer circle and dance to the accompaniment of
music of flutes and drums. An important feature
of the festival is the 'Pomblang' or goat sacrifice
offered by the subjects to the Syiem of Khyrim,
the administrative head of the Hima (Khasi State).
Ka Syiem Sad, the eldest sister of the
king is the chief priest and caretaker of all
ceremonies. The festival is conducted alongwith
the Myntries (Ministers), priests and high priest
where offerings are made to ancestors of the ruling
clan and the deity of Shillong. |
Shad Suk Mynsiem One of the most important festivals
of the Khasis is Ka Shad Suk Mynsiem or Dance
of the joyful heart. It is an annual thanksgiving dance
held in Shillong in April. Men and women, dressed in
traditional fineries dance to the accompaniment of drums
and the flute. The festival lasts for three days.
Festivals
in Jaintia Hills
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Behdienkhlam Behdienkhlam
celebrated annually in July after the sowing period
is the most important dance festival of the Jaintias.
Young men make a symbolic gesture of driving away
of the evil spirit, plague and pestilence by beating
of the roof of every house with bamboo poles.
Also poles of great length are held across the
stream Wah-Ait-Nar. People jump on the
poles and break them while dancing in the muddy
pool of water. A large pole is placed across the
stream and two groups contend for the possession
of the pole.
This festival is also an invocation to God seeking
his blessings for a good harvest. The women however
do not participate in the dancing, as they have
an important function of offering sacrificial
food to the spirits of the ancestors. |
Lahoo Dance The Lahoo Dance is performed by
both male and female for entertainment. Attired in their
best finery, usually two young men on either side of
a woman, holding arms together dance in step. In place
of the usual drum and pipe, a cheer leader, usually
a man gifted with the talent of impromptu recitation,
recites couplets to the merriment of the audience.
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