SHILLONG, July 9: For the second time in a row, the Behdeinkhlam festival was celebrated in a lacklustre fashion here by the Sein Raij Niamtre Shillong in view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
In a statement, the Sein Raij Niamtre said that rituals and celebrations did not involve community gathering on Friday. “Today, morning prayers (Ka Ngooh Ka Dem) were offered to U Tre Kirot (God), Ki Blai Chnong Ki Blai Raid and Ka Bei Rymaw (Mother Earth) seeking protection to the land and its people from epidemic, pandemic and persistent disease,” it said in the statement.
In his address, Dr Omarlin Kyndiah, general secretary of Sein Raij Niamtre, Shillong, said, “COVID-19 is nowhere near as deadly as smallpox with the fatality rate of 30 per cent from the 3rd Century BC to 1977 killing 500 millions. Smallpox has been eradicated. Smallpox vaccination was one of the greatest scientific and humanitarian achievements of the 20th century. The only way we can protect and eradicate COVID-19 is to get vaccinated.”
Also, the rites and rituals, ‘Ngooh Thyndai’, scheduled to be held on Saturday will be performed virtually.
