Fast Facts:
- Situated: Meghalaya, North eastern Part of India
- Main Fiesta of (Garo Hills): Doregala, Chambil Mesara and Wangla Dance Fiesta
- Main Fiesta of (Khasi Hills) : Shad Suk Mynsiem, Nongkrem Dance
- Main Fiesta of (Jaintia Hill): Lahoo Dance, Behdienkhlam
The Fiesta of Meghalaya implicates more on the local affairs but still the festive ardor is the main aspect of Meghalaya. Devoid of the bindings of any meticulous spiritual faith, the fiesta revelry are celebrated to indicate junctures where familial spirits are conciliated, subsequent to the activities of harvesting and sowing.
Fiestas in the Hills of Garo:
Wangala Festivalg
Dance of 100 Drum Fiesta also called, as Wangala is a significant affair of the (Garos). This fiesta sets the conclusion of an era of labor and announcing a good harvest. This festival is feted in respect of the divine of fertility called as ‘Satyong’. The entire generation of the tribal community wears their traditional outfits and bop to the strike of extended cylindrical drums. The Wangala Festival commences every year in the month of November and goes on for an entire week.
- Where: Entire Garo area
- Wangala Festival dates: 11 November 2022
Nongkrem Dance
Nongkrem Dance, a spiritual festival in thanking to the Almighty God for excellent yield, prosperity and peace of the society. This festival is feted every year at the time of October or November, at (Smit), the capital city of Khyrim Syiemship close to Shillong.
Youth men, married and bachelors, execute the (Nongkrem dance) in the open-air. Females are dressed in their best, pricey silk outfits with heavy coral, gold, and silver stuffs dances in internal round of the ground. Men’s form an external round, dances to the adjunct of tune of drums, and flutes.
A significant characteristic of the fiesta is the (‘Pomblang’) or the sacrifice of goat presented by people to the (‘Syiem’ of the Khyrim), the organizational head of (Khasi State) Hima. (“Ka Syiem Sad”), the oldest sis of the ruler is the head priest and concierge of all rites. The fiesta is carried out the length of the Ministers (‘Myntries’), high priests and priests where divine offerings are given to all the ascendants of the head tribe and the god of Shillong area.
- Venue: Smit
- Distance: 11 km from Shillong
- Wangala Festival dates from 2022: November month
Fiestas In The Hills Of Khasi
Behdienkhlam
Behdienkhlam is feted every year in the month of July subsequent to the inseminating time is the significant dance fiesta of the tribe of Jaintias. Youth men create a figurative sign of shooing away pestilence, evil spirit, and plague by whipping the roof of each and every abode with the help of bamboo poles. In addition, shafts of great extent are held crossways to the watercourse (Wah-Ait-Nar). Public hop on the shafts and break them at the time of dancing in muddy puddle of water. Huge pole is positioned crossways to the stream and 2 groups challenge for the ownership of the shaft.
This fiesta is also a prayer to the Almighty seeking his sanctions for an excellent harvest. Women though do not take part in the dance, as they attend an important ritual of presenting sacrificial foodstuff to all the spirits of ascendants.
- Where: Jowai region (Jaintia district )
- Behdienkhlam Festival Dates: 14 July 2022
Lahoo Dance
Both female and male for amusement execute the (Lahoo Dance). Dressed in their finest attires, usually 2 young male on both sides of the female, holding arms mutually dance in pace. In the position of the customary pipe and drum, a booster (cheerleader), typically a man endued with the flair of unrehearsed recitation, narrates couplets to cheerfulness of the spectators.
- Where: Khasi region
- Lahoo Dance Festival Dates for 2022: TBA
Ka Shad Suk Mynsiem
1 of the significant fiestas of the Khasi Tribe is “Ka Shad Suk Mynsiem” also called as Dance of blissful heart. This is a yearly Thanks giving dance festival that commences in the area of Shillong during the month of April. Women and Men, dresses in customary attires and boogies to the melody of flute and drums. The fiesta lasts for 3 days.
- Where: Khasi region
- Ka Shad Suk Mynsiem Festival Dates for 2022: Month of April
