JOWAI/SHILLONG, July 8: The Behdienkhlam Festival of the Sein Raij Jowai reached its third day on Wednesday, featuring a series of traditional rituals and cultural ceremonies.
The day’s proceedings began with the installation of the sacred ‘Deiñkhlam Bon’ at Iong Rngad Wah. Members of the Raij community also carried the symbolic ‘Symbood Khnong’ from Loom Soo Iung to Khlieh Shnong. In the afternoon, elders of the Kmai Raij gathered at Mynkoi Pyrdi to prepare the ‘Bom’ and ‘Bhuri’ (traditional musical instruments), which were then taken to ‘Datlawakor’ and other sacred sites across Iawmusiang.
As part of the rituals, women from the six localities of Kmai Raij carried the ‘Deiñkhlam’ from Iawmusiang to various neighbourhoods for installation, accompanied by traditional music and dance. The day’s religious rites concluded at Madan Moosyiem, where the Pator (priest) offered traditional libations to the spiritual figure ‘Kñi Nikhla’ following the arrival of the ‘Khnong Blai’.
The festival will culminate on July 9 with the final day, known as ‘Muchai’. The highlight will be the procession of elaborately decorated structures (Rots) from different localities, which will be ceremonially immersed in the sacred pool of ‘Syiem Aitnar’ along with the ‘Symbood Khnong’ and ‘Khnong Blai’.
The event will conclude in the evening with the traditional ‘Datlawakor’ match. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is scheduled to attend the final day as the chief guest.
VPP questions move to invite Himanta
The Voice of the People’s Party (VPP) has questioned the decision to invite Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma as the chief guest for the Behdienkhlam festival.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, VPP spokesperson Dr AW Rani extended greetings to those celebrating Shad Behdienkhlam but stated the party would have preferred the organisers avoid inviting the Assam Chief Minister for the occasion. The party alleged that Sarma has been responsible for creating a sense of insecurity among residents living in border areas.
“Shad Behdienkhlam is a celebration of our culture, identity, and unity. We hope the occasion remains one that unites our people and reflects the sentiments and aspirations of the people of Meghalaya,” the VPP added.
