Hima Khyrim Syiem harps on tradition, equal rights
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Chief of Hima Khyrim Paiem Balajied Sing Syiem said it is the duty of traditional heads to maintain tradition and ensure that people enjoy equal rights.
There should not be any division between the rich and the poor so that peace and harmony reigns at every level.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday at the Shad Nongkrem Festival of the Hima Khyrim, Balajied said that it is his duty as the Syiem of Hima Khyrim to preserve the legacy of the cultural traditions of the past through the Thanksgiving Festival.
He said that all the old Kingdoms were founded on the basis of religious obligations along with the administration.
He expressed concern that though the old Himas had been there but it is only Hima Khyrim which still has links to the past and its activities and functions are still undiluted.
“I am proud that people of this kingdom still cling on to the old way of life knowing that we are still relevant due to the identity and culture of the past”, he said.
Asked on the funds received by the Hima, Syiem said the Ministry of Tourism extended financial support for 3-4 years which has enabled the Hima to improve facilities and provide better seating arrangement and better facilities for dancers and accommodation for them and even for the headmen who have come from far to spend the nights here.
“We sought the government’s assistance also to improve the road condition leading to the venue and this they have done so. Using the facilities extended from New Delhi to us we are trying to improve all the things we have in our midst”, Syiem said.
76 tourists
At the Nongkrem Dance, on the left side of the entrance, tourists were made to register their names.
When asked, the people at the counter said that 76 tourists both domestic and foreign registered their names till 4 pm.
Guv first-timer
The Governor Tathagata Roy, who arrived in the evening to witness the dance, said though he was born and brought up in Shillong, it was his first time to watch the Nongkrem Dance.
Roy later took a photo of the dancers who were dressed in traditional regalia danced to the tunes of the duhalia. The females from the royal family took part in the dance along with the commoners.
Ruga dance paves way for drum roll in Asanang
From Our Correpsondent
TURA: The much-anticipated annual post harvest festival — ‘100 Drums Wangala Festival’ began at Asanang village of Rongram Block, 18 km from Tura, on a colorful note with the launch of the indigenous games and the opening of the much-anticipated SARAS Fair to showcase exquisite products like handlooms, handicrafts and organic food products brought forth by women Self Help Groups (SHGs) from every nook and corner of Garo Hills as well as Jaintia Hills.
The three-day festival will culminate in a grand finale Saturday with the beating of 100 drums and dance of the maidens which will also be witnessed by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma.
One of the main features of the inaugural programme on Thursday was the presentation of the post-funeral ritual dance of the Rugas, a sub-tribe of the Garos from South Garo Hills.
The audience was left spellbound by the colourful Ruga and A’tong Chugan dance, which despite facing threat of cultural extinction, is still being diligently preserved by the Rugas.
‘Wangala’ is the most significant post-harvest festival of the Garos generally held in the second week of November every year. It is a thanksgiving ceremony to Misi Saljong, also known as Pattigipa Ra’rongipa (The Great Giver), for blessing people with rich harvest of the season.
The Hundred Drums Wangala festival, which was started in the year 1976 at Asanang, has grown over the years under the patronage of the state government and nurtured by the festival organisers.
With every successive 100 Drums Wangala festival, young Garo Matgriks (warriors) have come forward to prove their mettle in the indigenous games like Jakpong Pe’a (traditional arm wrestling), Rongma Gosusa’a (traditional shotput), etc.