Nongkrem dance is one of the most popular dance forms among the people of the hilly state of Meghalaya. This is a dance form unknown to most people living in Mainland India. The indigenous dance festival is celebrated every year in the winter month of November.
The northeastern state of Meghalaya is known for its rich culture and tradition. The majority of the population living in this beautiful land belongs to the tribal community. There are three major tribes in the state and they have numerous festivals around the year. All the celebrations have one common purpose, that is to bring peace and prosperity to the community.
Nongkrem Dance
Nongkrem dance is a traditional dance form celebrated by the people of the Khasi tribe. It is organized every year in the month of November and the celebration lasts for five long days. The festival takes place in a scenic village called Smit which is eleven km away from Shillong, the capital city of Meghalaya.
Nongkrem dance is done to honor the goddess Ka Blei Synshar worshipped by the Khasi tribe. The Goddess is believed to bless the community with a good harvest and prosperity.
The most important element of this festival is the dance offered to the Goddess by young and virgin women of the community. The dancers are beautifully dressed in traditional attires and adorned with heavy gold ornaments. The field is also specially prepared for the girls to perform the dance.
Rituals related to this Dance
The word Nongkrem means “goat killing ceremony”. So, the Meghalaya dance festival starts with sacrificing a goat to the Goddess. The priests are called in to perform a ceremony called the Pemblang ceremony. Once this is over the people make offerings to the ancestors of the clan which is ruling and to the deity of the Shillong peak.
Activities in the Nongkrem Festival
The Nongkrem dance festival celebrated in meghalaya is mainly performed by girls belonging to a group called the Hima Khyrim. While the girls tap their feet to the music of the traditional duhalia or the musicians, the boys of the clan dance around them dressed in their traditional Khasi attire with a sword in one hand and a whisk made of white yak hair on the other.
The dance performed by the men is more energetic and vigorous. They form an outer circle with the girls in the center forming the inner circle. Ka Shad Mastieh is the name of the dance which the men perform on the beats of the drum and the music of the tangmuri or pipes. The dance performed by the women is known as Ka Shad Kynthei.
This Nongkrem dance of Meghalaya brings all the people of the community together without any discrimination. The entire clan comes together to pray for a good harvest, peace, and harmony. It is an old practice that still continues to have the same essence without any change in the old rituals. Every generation is continuing the legacy which has been bestowed on them by their ancestors.
So, if you ever have a chance to visit Meghalaya in the month of November don’t miss out on this traditional festival of the state. You can learn more about the Traditions of Meghalaya.
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