SHILLONG, Nov 20: The hills came to life with the sound of music as the Wahkhen KSING Repertoire, a one-day cultural programme ended on a high note with the locals displaying their talents.
The event, Wahkhen KSING Repertoire, in which KSING stands for ‘Khasi Songs in Indigenous Glory’, was organised by the Department of Arts and Culture on Friday at a recently declared Khasi Musical Heritage Village of Wahkhen in East Khasi Hills.
In Wahkhen, every villager is a natural musician.
Children at a young age can be seen tapping their feet to the thud of traditional drum set beats called ‘Skits’. It is here that music whether in rhythm or melody form resides in the DNA of the locals with no bar on .
The upbeat programme was curated by the department to reflect the variety of art forms and cultural traits of the Khasi people, including music, dance, food, toys, fruits and vegetables of all kinds that are traditionally-based and locally sourced. There was excitement in the air as the efforts putting to protect and promote Khasi music and culture was being conducted.
Rhythms have been the strongest creative point of the Khasi group of people, where the convergence of arts and science of sound by virtue of the skin instruments come to life, hence, by-passing the mind to connect straight with the heart.
KSING, as an event, is a culmination of creative thoughts, heartfelt nitty-gritty, hyper-local nuances, traditions and evolving cultures of the Khasi hills, yet, still connected to and with the cultural roots.
The word KSING, literally meaning ‘drum’ in Khasi, also signifies rhythms, celebrations, feel and cultural festivals that of traditional origin.
A varied and assorted cultural items adorned this one-day festival, including the first-time-ever public display of Ka Jingrwai Iawbei, a song blessed by the mother to her child; Tem Ksing Phong, Tem Kdor, Ngoh Krai dance, Shad sut or sut dance, Shad kiew iing – literally meaning house warming dance (Shad skain, Rwai saw Rishot and Shad khyrdem) and Shad Mastieh or Mastieh Dance.
Regional Director of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Munish Singh, was the chief guest in the presence of the village chief, Sordar S Khongjirem, Assistant Director, Department of Arts and Culture, D Kharjana, empanelled member of the department, Kit Shangpliang of the folk-fusion band Summersalt and other community leaders.
