Festivals of Meghalaya – Into the Celebrations

Meghalaya is one of the 7 northeastern states of India and one of the best places to be there at. Meghalaya when translated, means the abode of clouds. Justifying its name, this state will leave you mystified by the spectacular charm it has’ from cascading waterfalls, lush green forests, deep caves, to its amazing and mesmerising culture. Additionally, festivals in Meghalaya play an important role in the celebration of their life. There are a number of festivals celebrated in Meghalaya, but here are some important ones.

Festivals of Meghalaya

• Shad Suk Mynsiem
• Nongkrem Festival
• Behdeinkhlam Festival
• Shad Sukra
• Wangala Festival

Shad Suk Mynsiem Festival

Shad Suk Mynsiem is the most important festival of the Khasi Clans of Meghalaya. It also celebrated by the Jaintia and Garo Clans of Meghalaya. This festival is celebrated in April, every year. This is an extraordinary celebration of moves and is also known as  ‘Move of cheerful hearts’. This is a three-day festival and is popularly known as the ‘Shad Phur’. This festival is celebrated primarily in the Khasi Hills;  arranged close to Shilong. 

Also read: Festivals of Arunachal Pradesh

Nongkrem Festival

The Nongkrem Festival is also celebrated among the Khasis. It is celebrated every year in Smit, with pomp and gaiety. It is a thanksgiving festival that is celebrated for about 5 days in the month of October or November, every year. People from all over the world come here to witness the Khasi men and women performing the Shad Mystieh dance.

During this festival young virgin girls of the Khasi clan, wear expensive silk and gold ornaments and dance the Ka Shad Kynthei in the inner circle of the arena, while men dressed in dhoti, full-sleeved shirt, sleeveless coat and a turban with a sword in their right hand perform the Ka Shad Mystieh in the outer circle. This dance symbolizes male power and protection over women. 

Also read: Things to do in Meghalaya

Behdeinkhlam Festival

Behdeinkhlam is a four-day festival and is celebrated by the Jaintia Clan.  The Bhdeinkhlam means ‘Chasing away the Plague’ and is believed to ward off evils. It is celebrated during the sowing season when the people of the Niamtre religion gather together praying for bountiful produce. It is celebrated in July, every year. Various rituals along with sacrifices happen during this festival. The men of the Janitia clan gather together and play the Datlawakor – similar to soccer, but with a wooden ball. It is believed that those who win the game will have very good production that year. 

Shad Sukra

This festival is also celebrated by the Jaintia clan. This festival is also celebrated prior to the sowing season; in mid-April or May. They Pnar people seek the blessing of their deity for good produce and pray for the protection of their crops from all the natural calamities.  Rituals and dance are accompanied by the drums and the flute, with women and men dressed in their traditional dresses. 

Also read: Festivals of Assam

Wangala Festival

The Wangala Festival is celebrated by the Garo people, marking the end of the agricultural year.  It is a thanksgiving festival for Misi-A-Gilpa-Saljong-Galapa, the god of fertility. This festival is now popularly known as Hundred Drums Festival. During this festival, a special named Nagara is beaten for which men and women dance gracefully. The dress code for the men is usually the dhotis, half-coats and turbans with feathers and the women are dressed in colourful dresses made of silk, blouses and a head-wrap with feathers.

The other famous festivals in Meghalaya are Autumn Festival, Strawberry Festival, Ranikor FEstival and Bacardi NH7 Weekender.

Also read: Best time to visit Meghalaya

In a Nutshell

With a reason to celebrate every day, Meghalaya is a beautiful state which has more to offer than what it seems like. If you are visiting at the time of the festivals of Meghalaya, its even special. Are you interested in visiting Meghalaya during the festive seasons? Our Travel Experts are available to help you with more suggestions. Log in to Pickyourtrail.com and avail the best of International packages for your trip to Meghalaya. Happy Travelling!

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