By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 29: It was a display of rarely-seen dances, traditions and mouth-watering delicacies as the ‘Ri Kunai La Tynrai Festival’ — a festival organsied with the objective to sustain the culture, identity, dialect of the indigenous people —came to a close on Wednesday. The festival was held at Umden village in Ri-Bhoi district.
From harvest dance, dance winning the bride to traditional songs and storytelling, these cultural extravaganzas enthralled the audience and also provided the younger generations a chance to learn and imbibe the rich tradition and cultures of the indigenous people of the district.
The various stalls were filled with traditional items, handicraft and mouth-relishing food cooked in bamboo and served in leaves as well as bamboo glass. Few of the stalls also exhibited the entire process of making beautiful clothing out of Eri silk.
A firsthand explanation on the whole process involved in the making of Eri silk was also explained by weavers at the stall.
“It is a celebration of existence, our well-being and who we really are — the roots,” said Eric Makri, a visitor at the festival.
Chief guest of the occasion, Nongpoh MLA Mayralborn Syiem, said that the prime objective of the festival is to protect the indigenous cultures of the people of Raid Nongtluh.
Stating that this was a positive step taken by the women and the weavers under Nongtluh Eri Farmers Association, the Nongpoh MLA hoped that there would be more programmes which would make the young generations aware of their roots.
The festival also served as a platform for budding entrepreneurs like Remember Matong, who makes earrings and hair clips out of local products, and has not sold it out of her village. “The response is good and I am selling at a reasonable price. The sales also bolster my confidence that my products are well-liked and I hope one day with better financial assistance, I can expand my business,” said Matong.
Just like Matong, many others in various stalls selling handicrafts and other locally made accessories also dream to make it big someday; and festivals such as this one definitely provide a boost to them.
The two- day festival was organised by Nongtluh Eri Farmers Association, which is closely associated with the village to be recognised as Eri Silk village by the central and state government.
