JOWAI: The celebration of the the Jaintia Hills’ biggest Behdeinkhlam festival organised by the Sein Raij Tuber culminated on Monday at Tuberkmai Shnong village in East Jaintia Hills.
‘Stop smoking and taking drugs; protect the environment’ – was the message delivered by several rots or Rongs in Tuber area during the celebration.
There were 67 Rongs brought from various villages of East and West Jaintia Hills to display at the sacred pool — Ka Biar Blai — at Tuberkmai shnong village before they were immersed.
The Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma, PHE Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, Social Welfare Minister, Kyrmen Shylla were the VIPs who witnessed the colourful festival besides MLAs of Jowai, Wailad Shylla and Ranikor Constituency, Pius Marwein. JHADC CEM, Thombor Shiwat and his team of MDCs including Jowai North MDC, Brightstar Chyrmang, Laski Rymbai, Wining Garland Sungoh among others.
Greeting the people of Sein Raij Tuber, Sangma said, the state government has always appreciated and respected such programme to safeguard the culture and identity of the tribal people.
“It is my first time here and I have never seen such a colourful and enormous festival. I wish that this festival will protect the identity of our tribal community”, Sangma said.
Some of the important rituals that were performed on Monday included Ka Knia Ryngkaw — an oblation to the Goddess who guards over the Raij which was performed by the priest or U Longdoh, also known as U Riblai assisted by others religious elders. The ‘Ka Beh Khlam’ was another symbolic ritual performed in which members of the Sein Raij at Tuber holding sticks ran from the west to east end of the village beating anything on their way to drive away ‘plague’.
The last two rituals performed before and after immersion of all rots brought to Aitnar were Ka Iatan Bhang which is similar to a game of tug-of-war and Iaslait, similar to wrestling, in which two of the strongest men compete against each other.
The Iatan Bhang is a tug-of-war between a group representing the Phang Nein (North) and the Phang Wah (South). It is believed that if the Phang Nein wins the game, the northern part of the Raid Tuber will be more prosperous and vice versa.
