Cultural extravaganza begins on March 31
SHILLONG: The cultural extravaganza showcasing the rich heritage of the Khasis will be held at the Khasi Heritage Village, Mawphlang from March 31 to April 2. This will be the second edition of what was coined as the Monolith Festival, the first edition of which was held in 2013.
Entry will be free to the Monolith Festival which aims to serve as a melting pot of all the cultural features of the different Himas (traditional states) and Raids within the jurisdiction of the Khasi Hills. The Festival aims to showcase among other things, the indigenous cuisines, dances, handicrafts & textiles, rituals & ceremonies of the various sub tribes of the Khasis in one common arena. It aspires to bring to a common platform as many as 53 traditional states (Himas).
While the 2013 edition of the Festival championed the Khasi culture by enlightening its audience on the various customs and traditions unique to the Khasi tribe, the second edition of the event aspires to be unique in the sense that it aims to be of educational interest to hundreds of students from the State who will get an opportunity to attend seminars and workshops on various indigenous skills.
In what would add to the richness of this very indigenous event, some Aboriginal tribe members from Australia have also confirmed their participation in the Festival.
Addressing a press conference held here on Saturday, KHADC CEM, PN Syiem said that the Festival besides showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the Khasis, aims to revive age old traditions.
“The objective of the Festival is to strengthen and preserve the culture of the Khasis and expose it to the world,” he added.
He also informed that the KHADC has this year passed the Conservation and Promotion of Khasi Social Custom and Tradition Bill 2016 which makes it mandatory on any Executive Committee to organize the Monolith festival every year.
Poet and folklorist, Desmond Kharmawphlang, KHADC EM Neil Antonio War, Member-Secretary KHCF, Alan West Kharkongor among others were also present in the press conference.
The Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council and the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council have also been invited to send their cultural troupes for the Festival.
War informed that the Monolith Festival this year will be a knowledge-disseminating one especially for students who will get the opportunity to attend workshops on various indigenous skills like pottery, clay modelling, poetry, storytelling and live demonstrations on the various indigenous skills like locksmiths, weaving, basketry, turban attires and even the making of the krong (funeral casket).
He informed that as many as 21 schools have already confirmed participation in the event.
Also featuring in the festival would be indigenous games like Randose, Mawpoin, Siat Khnam and Sum Khnam apart from a professional archery competition among the various Himas on April 1.
“Quite a bit of research has been done to revive these games especially for children,” the organizers said.
This Festival will also be a forum for different NGOs, self help groups and institutions involved with any aspect in the promotion of Khasi culture to showcase and exhibit their works.
Apart from food stalls of various ethnic and common cuisines, knick knacks of various food stuffs, spices, metal wares will also be on display and sale. A separate enclosure shall be dedicated to sale and sampling of indigenous food preparations. There shall also be stalls for traditional massage, local homemade wines, local artworks and traditional handicrafts.
All the traditional houses of the various Himas will exhibit their respective handicrafts, local rice beer and information about their region during the three-day event.
The Festival strives to make the event a no plastic zone and visitors are advised not to bring plastic bottles since drinking water stations will be arranged.
Plastic carry bags shall not be available, so visitors need to bring their own carry bags or pla iew to make this event plastic free.
A camping site has been identified for limited campers.
A replica of the traditional suspension bridge seen in almost all the rivers and streams in rural Khasi Hill has been made within the Heritage Village and local visitors are urged to come attired in traditional attire to add grandeur to the event.
The organisers said that they are trying their best to provide parking for all the cars and elaborate traffic and parking arrangements will be made.
The estimated budget for the Festival is Rs 1 crore.