The beauty of our country is seen in the traditions here. In the state of Meghalaya, after the sowing of crops in monsoon, a very special festival known as Behdienkhlamis celebrated. In this festival, there is a special glimpse of the culture of Jaintia tribes of Meghalaya. Let us know about this festival in detail.
Meghalaya’s Behdienkhlam Festival: Local communities in every state give rise to their unique traditions and customs. The inhabitants become closer to one another while also improving the area’s natural beauty thanks to these customs. These celebrations draw on the traditions of their respective states and are held at various periods for various purposes. Analogously, the northeastern state of Meghalaya observes a particularly unusual event that demonstrates the extraordinary bond that exists there between the indigenous people and the natural world. Behdienkhlam is the name of this festival. Held in the Jowai Hills of Meghalaya, the event is observed by the Jaintia tribe.
What is Behdienkhlam Festival?
Behdienkhlam means to drive away evil forces. Therefore, the purpose behind celebrating this festival is also to protect the people living in this place from diseases like cholera and plague. Along with this, in this festival they seek blessings from God to bless their community with prosperity and good harvest.
Why is this festival celebrated?
This festival is celebrated every year in the month of July after the sowing of the crop. The euphoria of this festival in the pleasant season of rain doubles the happiness of people’s faces. Actually, it is the most important dance festival of Jaintia tribes, also known as Panar. The Panar tribe is part of the Khasi community of Meghalaya. Due to dirty water in the rainy month, there is a risk of cholera i.e. cholera. Therefore, in this festival, prayers are offered to end the cholera disease and protect ourselves from it.
How is this festival celebrated?
Because of how unique this festival is, equal participation from men and women is assured. This celebration, which is held in Mukhiya Daloi’s reception, is regarded as extremely significant. People congregate in a location known as Aitnar on the last day of this three-day celebration, where they dance and revel. Drums are played and folk melodies are performed at this time.
This event features a variety of activities in addition to dancing and singing, with football being the most popular. The object of this game is to roll a wooden ball. It is played between two teams, each representing a region in the North and South. The winning team is also said to have a good harvest in the region the following year, according to popular belief.
The Behdienkhlam festival is much more significant since a lot of rituals are also conducted during it. The male members of this tribe beat bamboo sticks against the roofs of all the houses while on this cultural festival trip. In order to fend off illnesses and evil spirits, this symbolic practice is carried out.
This is a custom not practiced by women. Preparing treats for their ancestors is their primary duty. Offerings are made to the ancestors during this celebration of sacrifice. The practice of fighting against one another is one of these traditions. A large beam known as wah-et-nar must emerge from the mud in order to do this. To extract this beam from the muck, several horses are also employed.
