SHILLONG: The Khasi New Year celebration was held on Sunday at Mawpun, Golf Links, under the initiative of Spiton Kharakor, a renowned author and exponent of Khasi culture and history.
It all began last year during the commemoration of the death anniversary of the late B Nishan Wahlang at Riti Academy of Visual Art, when Kharakor delivered a lecture in his memory. Thereafter, Herman Nongrum, President, Synjuk Ki Rangbah Kur expressed concern over his inability to fulfill the aspiration of the departed soul in the gathering which included former Deputy Chief Minister Bindo M Lanong and former KHADC CEM H S Shylla.
Kharakor stated that the aura of late Wahlang still prevail among them.
The New Year eve on October 27 coincided with his 76th birth anniversary and a celebration with the night vigil was held at the residence of late Wahlang at Mawpun with the family members and close friends.
The celebration was marked with the chanting of ‘Phawar’ at midnight and beating of Khasi traditional drums by Da Thymmei Academy of Performing Arts to welcome the New Year on Monday.
As a mark of respect to his friend, Kharakor paid homage to the departed soul with months of research and publication to declare the Khasi New Year day, which he had elaborated about the subsequent Khasi calendar in future.
His findings are based on the traditional lunar month calculation and the traditional market days of eight days a week, which is almost precise with the standard Gregorian calendar. It may be mentioned that Kharakor is the writer of the book Ki Khun Ki Ksiew U Hynñiewtrep, which is the first ever collection of all the Khasi clans, besides other significant historical information.
