By Wa-i-sa Sumer
On April 12, 2006 the long lost and forgotten culture of the Pnar people of Jowai famously known as “ka Chad Sukra” was resurrected under the aegis of Seinraij Jowai, a socio- cultural and religious organisation through the efforts of the then President of Seinraij, Jowai, O R Shallam. He was assisted by G.H Bareh the General Secretary, H Passah, Chairman art and culture and P Kynjing, Secretary art and culture, and a host of executive members of the Organisation. Lakhs of people from different parts of the state converged at Jowai to bear witness as well as to participate in this grand celebration. Mr Sing Mulieh the then Minister of Forest, Govt of Meghalaya was the Chief Guest and Moonlight Pariat, CEM JHADC, was the guest of honour.
There was a general air of expectancy about this festival. People of all ages waited anxiously for this great day. Finally when the day arrived, women – young and old dressed in full traditional attire of ka thoh saru , ka muga , ka ryndia stem, ka dhara, and accessories like u kpein , u paila, ki lakadom khaila, danced to the tunes of songs that reflected folk tales, jokes and jeering, teasing and chanting. While the women danced the crowd cheered and applauded. The first year, was indeed a great success.
After the inaugural function at Iaw Iongpiah and the display of a plethora of cultural dances by the different localities and Raij, the programme locally called ‘ka mih iaw’ followed , where a procession to the market place called Iawmusiang was undertaken by all these localities under the leadership of Seinraij, Jowai, it being a parent organisation.
People of all ages proceeded to the market place in tune with their own music and dances with joy and enthusiasm. Women dressed in their best traditional attires came out in large numbers to participate in this festival, to enliven the day with the spirit of love and to pay homage to mother earth as the guardian of life on earth. Songs that soothed the heart and also praised God asking for his love, care and protection for a good sowing season and a bumper harvest ahead rent the air.
Ka Chad Sukra is a dance performed before the sowing season, locally known as I POR PYNHAP SYMBE i.e. spring season. It is therefore categorised as one of the spring festivals. In Jaintia Hills, in the very distant past, before the sowing season starts, when people would be attending to their agricultural chores for days and months, they organised a programme called ka mih iaw – where a particular locality would prepare a dance called Ka Chad Sukra, whereby both male and female dance together to the tunes of the traditional instruments like ka clornet ka chakuwiah, ka bom, etc. Here ka chad kylla pliang or plate dance, chad ruwa, etc were performed by female dancers in traditional attire of ka thoh saru , ka muga, ki dhara, ryndia, and the traditional jewelleries, bangles known as laket, kpein, paila, khadu ksiar. The men, wearing turbans on their heads and with waist coats in white shirt worn with white dhoti, hold decorated flowers designed with coloured papers, move and dance to the music adding rhythm to the beauty of the dancers.
In the ancient past each locality, organised their own “mih iaw” which literally means market procession. This ceremony heralds the beginning of the sowing season.
A night before the market procession, a theatrical show , locally known as ka bamphalar is specially held in a particular locality where a drama is staged depicting stories with moral lessons that reflect the tradition and way of life of the people. At present Ka Chad Sukra provides a platform for exhibiting the cultural dances which, like many other facets of our culture had tended to be a forgotten chapter. In today’s scenario, things have taken a different turn as Ka Chad Sukra means a strengthening of bonds and instilling of the spirit of unity amidst diversity.
In the ambit of Seinraij, Jowai, today, the festival is observed diffently. One particular day is fixed for all localities; Panaliar, Dulong, Tpep Pale, Chilliang Raij, Loom Pyrdi , Iongpiah, Loomkyrwiang, Umshangiar, Seinraij Ummulong and Seinraij Shillong to meet together at Myngkoi Pyrdi. Seinraij Jowai has the privilege of welcoming the different cultural troupes, guests invitees, dignitaries from far and near through a dance rendition performed by the members of the women and youth organisations. The objective is to instil the spirit of oneness, love and strengthen the bonds of unity amidst the diverse aspects of these different localities and organisation.
The festival becomes a platform to showcase the different cultural dances of the Pnars that were being forgotten. Dances like the plate dance- ka chad kylla pliang , ka chad rawa,and dances like KA CHAD KYNJIAW KA CHAD PYNJAW ka CHAD TANA are not only revved through this festival but also provide an opportunity to the artistes to display their talents as composers, singers and dancers. The compositions depict the customs and way of life of the people underlining their philosophical and ideological lifestyle and their behavioural patterns such as
” I chad dein chdooh
” I chad pastieh
” I chad pynjaw
” I chad kynjiaw
” I chad kyrwoh
Ka Chad Sukra undoubtedly and truly speaks volumes about the richness of language, the way of life of the people as well as encompassing the richness of our heritage and culture handed to us by our ancestors.
Undaunted by hectic schedules and hard work of preparation, for days and weeks, people are greatly motivated as they work relentlessly to ensure that the celebration is a grand success. It is indeed commendable to see the spirit of people through their participation and involvement growing by leaps and bounds, from year to year. Today Ka Chad Sukra has become one of the most famous community festivals in Jowai and people look forward with excitement to savour the experience of ka Chad Sukra again and again …..