SHILLONG, NOV 12: An ancient Nongkrem dance Festival of the Khasi tribals ended here at the headquarters and capital of the erstwhile Khasi state, 15 km south from the state capital, amidst pomp, joy and faithful fervour here.Similar to all other indigenous festivals of tribals in the state, the festival is performed to appease the all-powerful Goddess, Ka Blei Synshar, for a rich bumper harvest and prosperity of the people.
The five-day long religious festival takes place at the ‘Iing Sad’ (thatched palace), the royal abode of the Syiem Sad, Queen Mother or High Priestess of the state of Khyrim.
The Syiem (King) of Khyrim along with the high priest performs the Pomblang ceremony, where a goat is sacrificed to appease the Lei Shyllong; the god of Shillong peak and also to the ancestors and ancestress of the ruling clan.
The religious part of the festival precedes dances, in which unmarried girls in all their exotic costumes participate.
Attired in their majestic and traditional regalia, young men also take to the dancing arena in front of the Iing Sad. They hold swords and white Yak hair whisks in their hands, keeping time to the changing beats of drums and haunting tunes of the tangmuri (pipes).
As people come from all over the State of Khyrim, little markets spring up in the field outside the Iing Sad compound adding to the revelry.
Dressed in their best, people throng the dancing arena and the adjoining hills where a colourful fair, featuring local handicrafts and delicacies is held on the occasion every year.
Over the years, the Nongkrem Dance has been attracting large number of tourists, both domestic and foreign.
Attired in his majestic regalia, the Syiem (King) of Khyrim, Dr Balajied Syiem presided over the festival.
A special cover of the Nongkrem Dance prepared by the General Post Office (GPO), Shillong was also released by Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong in the presence of Tourism Minister Metbah Lyngdoh and other dignitaries.
“The special cover will help to market this unique dance festival which showcased the rich cultural heritage of the state,” Tynsong said.
He also assured that the state government will continue to extend its full support to the Hima for promoting and preserving this rich tradition and cultural heritage.
In his speech, Lyngdoh said that the tourism department wants to ensure that the holding of the festival gets even better in the coming years. A cheque of Rs 20 lakh was also handed over to the Syiem during the festival.
The Hima Khyrim has always been a bastion of Khasi culture. The Pomblang (goat sacrifice) and the Shad Nongkrem (Nongkrem dance) has been organized in the same manner for hundreds of years even before the recorded years of 1831 AD.
Earlier, Dr Balajied S Syiem said, “We have preserved and nurtured the rich legacy of the traditional dances bequeathed to us by our ancestors. As inheritors of this cultural heritage, there is an urgent need to safeguard our roots despite the changes witnessed in the modern days all over the world.”
Among the other guests were health minister AL Hek, PHE minister Samlin Malngiang and KHADC chief Hispreaching Son Shylla.
By Our Reporter
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