Behdeiñkhlam Festival Celebrated in East Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya

Shillong, July 22, 2019:

The annual Behdeiñkhlam Festival was celebrates at Tuber in East Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya. The colorful event was attended by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and other leaders of the state.

Sangma also tweeted about it. "Attended the Behdeiñkhlam festival at Tuber in East Jaintia Hills that showcased the rich and colourful tradition of the Niamtre community", he wrote.

Speaking during the festival, he said that the current administration has believed in the rights of the indigenous people of Meghalaya. "Our tribal rights and tribal identity must always be protected", he said.

Behdeiñkhlam is the most important festival of the Jaintia tribe and is celebrated mid-July every year after the sowing is over.

Interestingly, the festival is celebrated at around the same time as the well-renowned 'Rath Yatra' is celebrated in other parts of eastern India.

Besides being the most colourful religious festival, it is also the most important and unique dance festival of the Jaintias.

This festival is also an invocation to God seeking blessings for a good harvest. Women offer sacrificial food to the spirits of their ancestors in an interesting ritual.

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