JOWAI: ‘Inclusion of Khasi in the Eight Schedule is the need of the hour’ was the message displayed by one of the rot or Rath brought by Ummulong to the sacred pool – Syiem Aitnar on the concluding day of the Behdeinkhlam festival on Wednesday.
Another rot brought by the Tpep-Pale locality had a theme revolving around the FIFA World Cup 2014 celebrations which was held recently at Brazil. The rot brought by Umshangiar locality emphasized on the importance of nature and the need to protect the planet Earth.
Behdeinkhlam, the most colourful and important religious festival of the Pnar people belonging to the Niamtre, a traditional faith, concluded with religious fervour and spirit of fun and merriment at Syiem Aitnar here on Wednesday.
The faithful believe that the four-day festival organised by the Sein Raij Jowai drives away “plagues, devils and all kinds of evil spirits” from the society.
Governor KK Paul graced the festival as the chief guest. PWD Minister, Sniawbhalang Dhar, Umroi MLA, Ngaitlang Dhar, JHADC Chief Thombor Shiwat, Director, Art and Culture, Matsiewdor War Nongbri, the Deputy Inspector General of Police, A. Sunn, the WJH Deputy Commissioner, PS Dkhar, WJH Superintendent of Police, Herbert G Lyngdoh were also present on the occasion.
Among the dignitaries, thousands of spectators from across the State and even abroad also witnessed the annual religious festival of the Sein Raij Jowai. Members of the Sein Raij Jowai, Sein Raij Shillong, Ummulong joined the festival dancing in the sacred muddy pool to the tune of the beat of drums and sound of cymbals displaying their rots some of them with messages with an aim to uplift the society.
Speaking on the occasion, the Governor said, “India is a vast Country which is culturally rich and also has a lot of diversity. The strong tie amongst its people and the cultural bonding make it the best example of Unity in Diversity.
The festival on Wednesday began at 4:30 am. Termed as Bam Tyngkong and Kyntin Khnong, this was held in the official residence of Ka Langdoh- the priestess followed by Bam Tyngkong performed by the religious head, the Dolloi, along with his “ministers” including the Pator, Sangot and the Maji and others.
Later, the Wasan or the elders visited every house and performed Shoh Thyndai – a beating of the roof with a stick called Deinkhlam to drive away plague or any kind of sickness and evil spirit from the house.
The main celebrations of the festival is held at the sacred pond, Aitnar. The festival begins at Aitnar, the sacred muddy pool, with the arrival of the Symbud Khnong (the spiritual wood). Only after the arrival of the Symbud Khnong, the members of ka Niamtre locally known as Ki khon ka Niamtre dance in the muddy pool.
Rots, colourful tower-like structures or paper monuments, were brought and displayed by various localities before they were finally immersed. Each colourful Rot representing by various localities had depicted various social issues.
Altogether, 11 rots were brought and displayed at the Aitnar before they were finally immersed.
Dat Lawakor, the other part of the festival, is a ritual performed in the form of a football match with a wooden ball but no goal post on both sides and players have to follow only east and west directions. The ritual was performed between the team of U Langdoh and the team of U Sangngot Paswett.
It is believed if any team won the match, one of the two valleys (popularly known rice Rice Bowl of Jowai) around Jowai known as Pynthor nein and Pynthor wah will yield a good harvest. This year, the team of U Langdoh won the match and this indicates that Pynthor Nein would reap more harvest than the Pynthor Wah.
To mark the conclusion of the festival, elders of the Niamtre-Sein Raij Jowai including the Dolloi performed Bam Tyngkong at the residence of Ka Langdoh, the priestess, followed by the last ritual called Ka Wai-sarang.