TURA: The annual Song Kristan celebration of song and dance to bring the curtains down on the Christmas and New Year celebrations culminated at the traditional venue of Bangsi Apal village near Dainadubi in North Garo Hills on Tuesday.
This year’s celebrations witnessed a mammoth gathering of not less than 10,000 people, both young and old from different villages, who joined the group dance as musicians, beating drums and cymbals, and playing the flute, led them.
Song Kristan is an open dance form in which the drummers lead the villagers in a traditional dance around the field to express gratitude to the Almighty for a peaceful and successful Christmas.
It is a practice that has been going on for generations in Garo Hills, particularly in the northern region bordering Assam.
“Before we embraced Christianity, we were Songsareks (pagans). We celebrated the harvest festival of Wangala and sang devotional songs known as ‘Kirtan’ for our Gods. Gradually as Christianity spread, the celebration form evolved into Song Kristan to praise the Almighty after conversion to Christianity. Song is a Garo word for village and Kristan is Christianity,” said a participant.
‘Song Kristan’ borrows itself from the word, Kirtan, which is a form of religious performance, connoting a musical form of narration or shared recitation, particularly of spiritual or religious ideas. Early Songsareks were inspired by neighbouring Assam-based Hindus performing ‘Kirtan’ and caught on with the tradition, more than a century ago. This later evolved into the form that is seen today.
“Traditionally, we welcome the Christmas season about a month before it is due with children and grown-ups doing rounds of Song Kristan near their villages. While there have been competitions now to judge the best groups, the one in Bangsi Apal is completely open, where any group can come and be a part of the tradition,” said CR Marak, a resident of Dainadubi.
The Dilma Apal open event on Tuesday was organised by the 2nd Jan Dance Management Committee comprising Nokmas and Sordars of neighbouring villages.
“The energy around is electric and anyone that comes here wants to put on their dancing shoes. Nobody is judging you for your level of skill. You just have to be there and just let go,” said B.D Sangma, a resident of Tura, who came to the venue to be a part of the programme.
The event started at 11am yesterday and continued till about 6 pm with not one moment going by without singing and dancing by cheerful revelers.
“This is a unique tradition and needs to have found a place in the tourism calendar. Unfortunately, that has not been done and something as unique as this is being sidelined.”
“Hope the government gives the event its due,” said another local resident, Anthony Marak.
