Annual pilgrimage reaffirms faith in ancestral traditions
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Feb 1: The Seng Khasi and Seiñ Raij on Sunday held the annual traditional religious pilgrimage to the summit of the sacred Lum Sohpetbneng—‘Kiew Pyneh Rngiew’—reaffirming the Khasi community’s deep-rooted faith in its indigenous beliefs and ancestral traditions.
The pilgrimage, observed every year on the first Sunday of February, draws thousands of Khasi-Jaintia followers of the indigenous faith, who journey to the ‘navel of heaven’ atop the 1,344-metre-high peak, located about 16 km from here, to offer obeisance to God the Almighty.
The event, organised by the Seng Khasi (Kmie), was conducted under the supervision of the Lum Sohpetbneng Committee and the Committee U Tymmen U San. Devotees from various parts of the Khasi Hills gathered in large numbers to participate in the age-old ritual, which continues to witness growing participation each year.
According to Khasi tradition and oral history, Lum Sohpetbneng holds immense spiritual significance as the place from which the Khasi people are believed to have descended to earth through the Jingkieng Ksiar (Golden Ladder). The annual pilgrimage is therefore regarded as both a sacred duty and a collective expression of faith.
Before the ascent to the summit, customary prayers and rituals were performed to seek permission and blessings from U Blei Trai Kynrad Nongthaw Nongbuh, the Almighty Creator. After the completion of all traditional rites and preparations, devotees undertook a collective climb to the summit of the sacred hill.
Kiew Pyneh Rngiew is observed as an occasion to offer prayers for good health, wisdom, prosperity, and harmony. Devotees prayed for success in livelihood and education, peace and protection for families and communities, and deliverance from calamities, diseases, and misfortune. Special prayers were also offered for the well-being and moral strength of the younger generation.
As per tradition, the main ritual began at the entrance gate leading to the summit. Following the gathering of devotees, the Committee U Tymmen U San led the central prayer ceremony at the sacred altar atop the hill. The priest offered prayers seeking forgiveness for human shortcomings and appealed for continued divine blessings upon the people.
After the main ritual, elders, youths, and children were allowed to approach the altar individually to offer brief prayers and receive blessings.
The observance concluded with the distribution of ritually blessed rice and water, which devotees carried back to their homes as symbols of divine grace and prosperity.
