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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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