By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Nov 27: The Tri Hills Ensemble – II, which was successfully organized by the Department of Arts & Culture, on November 24 and 25, with the theme ‘Rooted in Nature, Connected to Culture’ focussed on providing a vibrant platform for showcasing ‘Stories that matter’ by bringing to the fore, the state’s indigenous tribal genius, its intangible heritage, local traditions, dance forms, arts, handicrafts and handlooms, music and its unique craft, culture and cuisine.
Apart from the vibrant displays, two unique additions which brought life to the festival and made it immersive and experiential, especially for the younger generations, was the ‘Live Tribal Museums’ which showcased the traditional tribal hearths of the Garo, and the Khasi – Jaintia community, which drew large crowds.
Another highlight was the various micro-creative work-play camps organised at the Tri-Hills Ensemble 2023, which featured indigenous games such as sdien dhawa, a bamboo zip-line, suloi thak, bamboo dart-guns, kudoi or swings, rynthlab, a bamboo clapper used by boys at work in the paddy fields and light-weight bows and arrows.
Children who participated in large numbers on both days were also encouraged to try their hands at the various musical instruments and shown to use select material culture objects such the specially made-to-fit pestle and mortar in pounding rice.
Other attractions were siat mawmlon, clay orbs used as marbles, ki dieng dang or bamboo stilts and top spinning. A puzzle-toy, fashioned from bamboo and rope called pyllait U dkhan or “release the mole” challenged both young and old to unravel the knotted lump which symbolised the mole and get it out from one of the orifices of the bamboo. To do so required reasoning power and calm thinking. A folk pedagogical device, it was exposed to urban adults and children, we believe, for the first time.
The star attraction was the “ride the tiger” station, which featured a hand-crafted wooden tiger which ran on wheels fitted to wooden tracks. Children riding the tiger were encouraged to spear a straw target placed by the side of the tracks with a bamboo javelin. The idea of creating the station was inspired by the legend of U Adadak, the Khasi folk hero who was raised by tigers and who used one as a vehicle in his global perambulations. It was observed, with much amusement, that many parents jostled with their children to get the first ride for selfies!
A performance which drew the complete attention of the crowds was the jabulo, a procession of masked figures, dressed in sackcloth and singing spontaneously-composed songs with choral precision.
The NEHU Reading Club also conducted a well-attended reading session at the camp where members of the public were encouraged to share their stories, anecdotes and reflections.
The Department recognised and awarded six villages as Art and Craft villages which include Nongkynrih for traditional metal craft, Ialong as a Jaintia cultural centre, Mustoh for lost embroidery, Umladkhur for cuisine, Babadam for traditional rice beer, and Wahkhen for highland weaves.