TURA: With a view to encourage and preserve the traditional Song Kristan or Chrokjimna, a dance competition was organised recently at Ampati Deficit Upper Primary School Playground in South West Garo Hills during Christmas holidays. It may be mentioned that Song Kristan is not a Garo word but derived from a Sanskrit word and therefore, the people of the area decided to rename it as Chrokjinma due to the nature of the group song and dance form and others.
Ampati MLA Miani D Shira who was the chief guest of the occasion observed that these are unique style of dance form of the Garo culture which needs to be preserve and encouraged especially by the youth groups to retain and uphold such kind of traditional practice in our society.
Meanwhile, thousands from both Assam and Meghalaya took part in the Chrokjinma, which was celebrated in several parts of Garo Hills. The unique Garo celebration during Christmas season started from the village of Nishangram in Goalpara district of Assam to Bangsi Apal in North Garo Hills in Meghalaya.
More than 20 border villages were involved in the event today and many more came from across Garo Hills to be a part of the event. It is a celebration of age old traditions.