Shillong, Nov 2: The Nongkrem Dance Festival or the ‘Shad Pomblang’ this year concluded amidst a sea of people from various villages in Khasi Hills and several tourists flocking to the courtyard of the grand ‘Iing Sad’ at the Smit Village, the capital of the Khyrim Syiemship, to witness one of the oldest traditional rituals of the Khasi Tribe.

The 5-day religious festival of the Khasi Tribe is performed to appease the all powerful Goddess ‘Ka Blei Synshar’ for a rich bumper harvest and prosperity of the people.

Organised every year in the month of November, the Nongkrem Dance has been drawing a sea of culture enthusiasts and also photographers from the country and from abroad as well.

Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, Chief Secretary D.P Wahlang, deputy commissioner R. M Kurbah, CEM Pyniaid Sing Syiem, MDC Fantin Lakadong, Grace Kharpuri, Lamphang Blah, P. N Syiem, MLA Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit, Shakliar Wajri, DGP of Meghalaya, Dr Dr. Lajja Ram Bishnoi were present at the festival.

Late in the afternoon on Thursday, the Syiem (King) of Hima Khyrim, Paiem Balajied Syiem, along with the ‘Lyngdoh’ or the high priest performed the ‘Pomblang’ ceremony (sacrifice of goat) to appease the ‘Lei Shyllong’ – the God of Shyllong peak. The offerings are also made to the ancestor and ancestress of the ruling clan.

The Hima Khyrim has always been a bastion of Khasi culture. The Pomblang (goat sacrifice) and the Shad Nongkrem (Nongkrem dance) have been organized in the same manner for hundreds of years even before the recorded years of 1831 AD.

Friday was the final day for the Nongkrem Dance Festival 2021 which witnessed beautiful maidens decked in Khasi traditional attire and gold ornaments and valorous young men brandishing their swords participate in the religious dance. The Men dance in a circular motion with their sword in their right hand and usually a white Yak hair whisk in their left hand to guard the female dancers who dance at a very slow and less energetic way in sync with the changing beats of ‘Ksing’ or drums and playing of the ‘tangmuri’ or pipes.

The Syiem (King) of Hima Khyrim, Paiem Balajied Syiem, said the Nongkrem Dance since its inception many centuries ago was a festival to celebrate the Thanksgiving of the ‘Khun ki Hajar’ of the Hima Khyrim in giving thanks to the God Almighty for his blessings of good harvest throughout the year and also this festival is to bind and bring oneness of all the region under the Hima Khyrim.

“We celebrate the Nongkrem Dance and still practice it because whatever we inherited from the past from our ancestors binding with the annual Nongkrem Dance will still remain for the generation to come,” said the Syiem.

Informing that in this year’s Festival there are 288 dancers, which includes 118 males and 170 maidens.

Paiem said that this year’s very positive as the number of dancers has increased over the years, Paiem added that the support from the people in terms of monetary support is also very positive.

“All these (positivities) came because we have not divert from our responsibilities to continue praying for blessings from our God Almighty”, he said.

Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong said that Pomblang or the Shad Nongkrem Festival symbolises the rich culture and heritage of the Khasi and its cultural identity, the Deputy CM added that he is happy to be part of the Festival and wishes everyone a bless Shad Nongkrem.

Read: All Souls Day Observed with Profound Devotion in Williamnagar

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