Spring is a season of beauty and bounty which gives Meghalaya a fresh lease of life. With the advent of the queen of the seasons, flowers start blooming brightly in the nook and corner of the abode of cloud. The season brings festivity to the joyous tribal people who cannot but celebrate the occasion.
The Khasi tribe in Meghalaya is known for their unique tradition and culture. They don’t have any dearth of occasions to showcase their culture before the world. Mention may be made of the Shad Suk Mynsiem. The spring festival falls on April 13, 14 and 15 where they offer prayer to the god for bounteous harvest. Spotlight falls on the Weiking grounds near Shillong.
Kiew Lum Sohpetbneng, the name of a tiny spot in Meghalaya pulls huge crowd on the first Sundays in the month of February. The occasion is the annual pilgrimage of the indigenous Khasi people who believe in their sixteen hunts for the gods(Kiew eh-rngiew) who give you good fortune 25 kms away from the capital city of Shillong.
A honeyed golden November sunshine turns Meghalaya in to a haven misplaced on the planet. The entire north eastern state wears a different look marking the advent of the winter season. That’s an ideal turn for the Garo people in Tura to celebrate the Wangala Dance festival.
Festivity grips Asanang near Tura town on November 12, 13 and 14 where traditional dance and music are showcased. The striking feature of the weeklong festival is the music apart from the orchestra of drums, gongs and flutes. A traditional flute made of buffalo horn makes the festival more charming.
July in the Jaintia Hills districts of Meghalaya is a season of festival where local people find an occasion to showcase their traditional culture. The annual festival of the Pnara tribe begins on July 15 to conclude on July 20. Known as Behdienkhlam, the religious festival beckons huge number of tourists from the country and abroad. Jowai, locating at an altitude of 1220 metres from sea-level and only 64 km. away from Shillong by road, in the north eastern state wears a fresh look where the youths celebrate the festival with traditional dance and music.
The entire Khasi hills in Meghalaya erupts in joy as soon as the Nongkrem dance festival falls. The week long festival takes place on November 1 where the festivity of the Khasi hills people knows no bound. The carnival is all about wealth, animals and an environment. Animals are sacrificed as part of the festival to be followed by feast along with songs and dance. The central place of attraction is Smit, the fixed venue of the occasion where the Khasi hills people throng to participate in the event which is 11 km away from the capital city of Shillong, an ideal place for the tourists.
