JOWAI: Behdeinkhlam, the most colourful and important religious festival of the Sein Raij Jowai- a religious organization of the Pnars belonging to the traditional faith or Ka Niamtre, concluded here on Wednesday.
The festivities came to an end at the sacred muddy pool or the Aitnar in Loompyrdi Iongpiah where thousands gathered to drench in merriment on the occasion.
The concluding-day festivities witnessed a colourful display of 12 tower-like structures or Rots, at the sacred muddy pool.
The Rots were brought by the Niamtre faithful from various parts of Jowai. Members of Sein Raij Shillong and Sein Tyllilang also took part in the festivities.
Apart from thousands of Niamtre faithful of the Sein Raij Jowai, people from across Khasi and Jaintia Hills participated in the event.
Tourists from other states and even from abroad were also seen witnessing the colourful and unique event.
Men, both young and old, danced to the drum beats and other traditional musical instruments as they carried their respective Rots to the sacred muddy pool.
Besides their religious significance, the Rots carried social messages too.
One of the Rots brought to the scared muddy pool carried a message which emphasized the need to protect the environment and to eradicate social evils.
The rot brought by Ummulong displayed a message, “Alcohol (is) the mother of all evils, be a thinker not a drinker, don’t get trapped by alcohol”.
The rot brought by Lumpyrdi Iongpiah underlined the importance of trees and cautioned against their illegal felling. While others emphasized on preservation of the environment.
A host of dignitaries including Meghalaya Governor, V. Shanmuganathan, Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court, Dinesh Maheshwari, PWD Misnister, Sniawbhalang Dhar, Home Minister, Roshan Warjri, Umroi MLA, Ngaitlang Dhar, JHADC Chief, Thombor Shiwat, among others witnessed the festival on the concluding day.
Delivering short speeches, both the Governor and the Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court greeted the people of the Niamtre and wished them success in all their endeavors.
Earlier, the festivities began on Wednesday with a ritual called Kyntin Khnong at the official residence of the priestess (Langdoh) followed by Bam Tyngkong performed by the religious head, the Dolloi, along with his ‘ministers’ including the Pator, Sangot and the Maji.
Later, the Wasan or the elders visited every house and performed Shoh Thyndai – beating of the roof with a stick called Deinkhlam, to drive away plagues, sickness and evil spirits.
The Wasan also offered prayers in every house they visited.
The most attractive and significant part of the festival however is at the sacred muddy pool or Aitnar.
In the afternoon, the festival moved on to the Aitnar with the arrival of the Symbud Khnong (the sacred wood) following which members of the Niamtre locally known as Ki khon ka Niamtre danced in the muddy pool.
Dat Lawakor, the other part of the festival, is a ritual performed in the form of a football match played with a wooden ball but without any goal post on either side. Players are supposed to follow only east and west directions. The ‘match’ was played between the teams of Langdoh and Sangngot Paswett.
It is believed that if any team wins the match, one of the two valleys around Jowai known as Pynthor nein and Pynthor wah will yield a good harvest.
This year, the team of Langdoh won the match and according to belief it indicated that Pynthor wah would reap more harvest than Pynthor nein.
It may be mentioned that the faithful believe that the four-day festival drives away plagues and all kinds of evil spirits from the society.
