Meghalaya Tours -
: - Meghalaya Festival Tours
Few places have such an ancient history and diverse festivals as
Meghalaya. Meghalaya is so rich in its culture that the regional separations
also see difference in festivals. The three main hills of Meghalaya namely
Garo Hills, Khasi Hills & Jaintia Hills have their own distinct
festivals.
Festivals in the Garo Hills Wangala: This week long festival is
celebrated to mark the yield of godd harvest annually in the month of
November. Performed in honour of 'Satyong', the God of fertility, "Wangla"
means dance of Hundred Drum festival and people dressed in their colourful
costumes dance to the beat of traditional drums.
Doregata Dance: This dance form reflects the happy and simple life
of people. Women folk try to knock off the turbans of their male
counterparts using their head. If they succeed, it is followed by peals of
laughter.
Chambil Mesara : This is a solo dance-form in which 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: Held annually during
October/ November, at Smit, the capital of the Khyrim Syiemship near
Shillong, this festival is celebrated to offer thanks to the almighty God
for good harvest, peace and prosperity of the community. goat sacrifice is
offered by the devotees. The dance is performed by all.
Shad Suk Mynsiem: This thanksgiving dance festival, which means
dance of the joyful heart is held in Shillong in April and lasts for three
days. Men and women attired in traditional fineries dance to the hypnotising
music of drums and the flute.
Festivals
in Jaintia Hills Behdienkhlam: This festival is celebrated annually as
an invocation to God to seek his blessings for a good harvest. It is
celebrated in July after the sowing is complete. 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.
