JOWAI: The most colourful religious festival of the Pnars- the Behdeinkhlam, celebrated annually by the traditional faithful- ‘Ka NiamTre’, began on Sunday with various rituals performed by elders of the traditional faith in different parts of Jaintia Hills.
Rituals were performed by the Lyngdoh or the priests, among others, in the presence of the Dolloi, who is the head of the Niam Tre, Jowai Sein Raij.
On Sunday, the two main rituals performed included, ‘Ka Siang ka Phur’, where edible items were offered to the ancestors of the respective Niam Tre family, while, the second ritual involved fetching of a sacred log of great length called the ‘Ka Symbud Khnong Blai’.
Thousands of Niam Tre faithful from Dulong, Panaliar, Iongpiah, Chilliangraij, Tpep Pale and other localities came together, dancing to the beat of drums, from Jowai to Khliehtyrshi, where they brought the Symbud Khnong and laid it in a sacred place at Loom Soo Lung, Newhill, Jowai.
The four-day long festival will end on Wednesday at the sacred pool or Ka Aitnar situated at Longpiah, Jowai with the immersion of the tower-like structures called Rot or Rath.
The celebration is expected to attract thousands of Niam Tre- Niam Tynrai faithful from across Jaintia and Khasi Hills.
According to Jowai Sein Raij president, OR Challam, the Meghalaya Governor, the Chief Minister and Union Minister of State Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju besides the Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court will attend the celebration at the Aitnar. Shillong MP Vincent Pala will witness the celebration at Mymkhoi Pyrdi Iongpiah, Jowai on Tuesday.
The Sein Raij Jowai president welcomed and invited all the people of the state and the country to witness the Behdeinkhlam festival on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, ‘Deinkhlam’ or the sacred log also known as ‘God’s pillars’ were brought to Iawmusiang on Monday.
Thousands of Niamtre faithful left their respective localities in the morning dancing along to the beats of drums and sounds of cymbals to bring the Deinkhlam to Iawmusiang from nearby forests in the afternoon.
The Deinkhlam or the ‘God’s Pillar’ will be erected in the heart of every locality on Tuesday afternoon.
