SHILLONG: The Shad Suk Mynsiem (Dance of the happy heart), showcasing the cultural heritage and rituals of the Khasis came to a close at Weiking ground, Jaiaw here on Monday in the presence of hundreds who turned up to witness the festivities.
The sweltering heat during the day did not deter the crowd and the followers of Seng Khasi from turning out in large numbers to participate in the annual celebration which began on Saturday.
The three-day annual festivity formerly known as the ‘Shad Phur’ is a thanks giving dance which symbolizes offering of salutations to God, homage to their ancestors and proclamation of unity of the Khasi people.
People present at the venue were thankful for a beautiful day as dancers made merry and matched steps rhythmically with the shrill sound of the pipe (tangmuri) and the inviting beats of the drum.
Even as daylight drew to a close, people thronged the venue in large numbers to have a glance of the cultural performance preserved by the Seng Khasi since ages.
Maidens decked in traditional attire danced in the inner circle while the men swayed with whips and swords enthusiastically to the music round the women symbolizing that the dignity and honor of women are protected by men.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, spokesperson of Seng Khasi, Dapbiang Kharmih, said, “The dance is our offering to God, the Almighty who has bestowed upon us blessings of good health and wealth.”
She narrated that the festival was originally held at Mawkhar from 1902. However, to accommodate the increasing number of adherents of the traditional religion, it was later shifted to Weiking ground in 1911.
“There was a time when there was a case relating to the land at Weiking ground where people who no longer adhered to the traditional religion fought over the land. However, the Seng Khasi won the case,” Kharmih said.
‘Increasing number of people coming back to the Seng Khasi fold’
She further said, “In the very early days of its existence, there were very few devotees but currently there is an increasing number of people who are coming back to the Seng Khasi fold.”
Commenting on the significance of the dance, she said, “Shad Suk Mynsiem characterizes the cultural and religious aspects of the practices of the Seng Khasi, thereby adding essence to the dance.”
“Even after offering our prayers at Mawkhar, all the dancers ought to offer prayers before dancing at the Weiking ground,” she added.
On being asked about the degrading morals witnessed in the society, R. Rynjah, secretary, culture, Seng Khasi said people these days have lost conscience and are not practicing the valuable tenets of what one preaches.
“Religion is personal as it is up to the individual. If we dig deep, the festivals and merriment are the fruits of religion,” Rynjah said.