By Olivia Lyngdoh Mawlong
SHILLONG: The Catholic faithful around Khasi Hills performed Shad Paskha, a Khasi cultural dance to celebrate Easter in a special yet meaningful way on Sunday, which is the most important day for Christians around the world as it marks the resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ from dead after the third day of his burial following his crucifixion by Romans at Calvary more than 2000 years ago.
The Catholic Church celebrated Easter in a unique way to glorify the resurrection of Jesus Christ by conducting the ‘Shad Paskha’ at different parishes in and around Shillong.
Fr. Francis Kharwanlang, spiritual director of St Paul Seminary, Upper Shillong, said that the church holds the Shad Paskha on Easter which is its most important festival, as on this day “Our Lord Jesus Christ resurrected from dead to deliver us from sin. As Christ has risen, we also want to rise with Jesus Christ,” he added.
Moreover, the Catholic Church conducts Shad Paskha on Easter to show joy and to “glorify Jesus Christ who has died for us and risen on Easter,” Fr Kharwanlang said.
Fr. Kharwanlang informed that, the first Shad Paskha was performed way back in 1970, at Pynursla Parish initiated by Fr Nicholas Tuligi from Italy.
Fr. Tuligi saw that the Khasi cultural dance was beautiful and full of life, the costume donned by the dancers was rich and fascinating, therefore, he thought why not glorify God through a cultural dance that is rich and beautiful and also to remind the people that they belong to a community which is rich in culture.
On Sunday, the Shad Paskha was performed in different parishes in Laitumkhrah, Laban, Mawlai, Laitkor, Marbisu, Laitlyngkot, Mawsynram parish, and in West Khasi Hills it was performed in Markasa and Mawkyrwat parishes among others.
Organized by the St. Joseph Socio-cultural organization Laitkor Parish, Shad Paskha successfully concluded with about 85 enthusiastic dancers who adorned the lympung (arena) at Madan Laitkor to the traditional tunes of duhalia (musicians) from Wahkhen, on Sunday, Natalie Deingdoh who witnessed the celebration said in a statement.
In Laban parish, the Shad Paskha saw the participation of small kids, youths, members of the Seng Kynthei of the parish in their traditional attires. Drums and pipe were played as the the performers moved and danced accompanied by the beats.
Everyone took part enthusiastically to glorify and give thanks to Jesus Christ in a special way.
“Shad Paskha is a celebration of oneness and joy as Christ has risen on this day, we also want to rise with Jesus,” Fr Crescence Khongwir, Parish Priest of St. John’s Parish, Laban said.
Shad Paskha is also a community gathering to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
“And we the people with a beautiful culture would like to show our gratitude and praise the Lord in this form, by doing a cultural dance, as Christ came for all. This is the time of happiness and joy for all human race,” Benedict Marwein, Catechist St John’s Parish, Laban said.