Ka Pomblang Nongkrem

November brings festivity to Meghalaya where the various tribes in the colourful north eastern state find an occasion to showcase their culture and tradition. The season is ideal for the Khasi people in the abode of cloud to celebrate the Ka Pomblang Nongkrem or Shad Nongkrem. The focus falls on Smit, the capital of the Khyrem Syiemship near Shillong where the khasis observe the thanks giving day to the goddess ka Blei Synshar for bounteous harvest.

The striking feature of festival is Pomblang where goats are decapitated by the subjects to the 'Syiem' of Khyrem. Here the offerings are made to the forefathers of the ruling clan and the deity of Shillong peak (U-Lei Shillong). The eldest sister of the king whom they call 'Ka Syiem Sad', normally presides over the formalities followed by a sanctification ceremony . On the fourth day of the festival, dressed in traditional attire the Khasi men and women participate in the Nongkrem dance. 

The people at the festival venue eagerly keep waiting to see the opening dance where the virgins from the Syiems participate under an umbrella of the Syiem Sad. They further call it the royal dance a drawn –break of the day. Clad in silk dress with a sword the young lads dance to the tune of drum beats and pipes which they call Tangmuri. That’s popularly known as Nongkrem dance. More attractive is the men's performance in energetic dancing in the festival which ends on the fifth day.