Commemorative dance festival of Khasi tribals ends

An ancient Nongkrem Dance Festival of the Khasi tribals of Meghalaya ended today at Smit, capital of the erstwhile Khasi state (Hima Khyrim), located about 15 km away from Shillong.
The festival is observed for hundreds of years even before the first recorded 1831 AD to appease Goddess Ka Blei Synshar for a rich harvest and prosperity of the people.
The five-day long 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 performed the Pomblang ceremony, where a goat was 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 participate.
Attired in their majestic and traditional regalia and holding swords and white Yak hair whisks, young men also take to the dancing arena.

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.
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.
The dances, music and the rituals remained the same since the beginning, the Syiem said.

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.
Among the guests were Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, who lauded the Syiem, the royal family and his cabinet for fulfilling the sacred duty over the years.
"With the changing times we need to uphold and strengthen our rich ancient culture and tradition," the Chief Minister said today.