From Our Correspondent

JOWAI: For the first time in the history of the State, a cultural film festival was organized in a village in East Jaintia Hills on Friday.
Organized by the Kiri Daloi Native Cultural Institute, Shangpung at the Sein Tyllilang Auditorium, Shangpung Pohshnong, the fest witnessed the screening of several local films besides cultural performances.
A film about a village in Mawlasnai in Ri Bhoi District was also screened.
This unique one-day film festival also showcased locally made films from Shangpung and Jowai besides screening films from the acclaimed documentary series “Songs to Live By’, made by Tarun Bhartiya, K. Mark Swer & Arwat Challam and produced by the Department of Arts and Culture, Government of Meghalaya and NESFAS.
The series consists of films which tell tales of songs and rituals in Khasi, Garo and Jaintia hills in their living forms.
Heibormi Sungoh, a Shangpung-based  historian and archivist and also the chairman of the Kiri Dolloi Native Cultural Institute informed that more such festivals will be held in the future to encourage educated and talented youths to document the rich local traditions.