Behdienkhlam Festival culminated with all SOPs to combat COVID-19 followed

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 8, 2020

Adhering to the strict norms of COVID-19, the annual festival of invoking God’s blessing on harvest and divine protection against plague or Behdienkhlam come to an end at Aitnar, Jowai, West Jaintia Hills this evening.

Hosted by the Seinraij Jowai under the capable leadership of O R Challam as President and Arwot Sumer as General Secretary, the Behdienkhlam festival commenced on Sunday, last with paying of religious homage and rituals to the ancestors and followed by various rituals ceremony through out the four days till its final culmination.

The Meghalaya Government allowed the celebration of Behdienkhlam on the assurance of the leaders of Seinraij Jowai that they will toned down the celebration as to ensure social distancing a and following of other standard operating procedures lay down by the Government to combat the dreaded COVID-19.

High Court of Meghalaya Chief Justice Biswanath Somadder, MLA of Jowai Assembly Constituency Wailadmiki Shylla, West Jaintia Hills District SP Bikram D Marak MPS, Registrar General Meghalaya High Court B Mawrie grace the ceremony.

Speaking on the occasion, the learned Chief Justice said, “Nothing can be more a significant than the important of having Behdienkhlam today when the entire world is plague with one virus (Corona Virus). If indeed the strength of the prayer, prayers of century has any relevant in modern times then it is today.”

“My good wishes to all of you and may you have a better tomorrow where we drive off the plague which affected our daily life not only in this region, Meghalaya, in the country, in the continent but in the entire world, your relevant of this rituals what bring me before and i wish you to have a better tomorrow,” Justice Somadder concluded on a high note.

Unlike other years, the Rot with different messages pertaining to the present day context prepared by various localities under Seinraij Jowai Behdienkhlam was suspended as to adhere to the SOP of COVID-19. However, the faithfuls under the guidance of Dolloi of Elaka Jowai Puramon Kynjing offered prayers in the sacred pool of Aitnar to seek the Almighty or Trekirot intervention against plagues and for granting good health and prosperity.

Sharing few words with syllad.com on the sideline of the observation, the jubilant Dolloi said, “After completion of all rituals, the Almighty has indicated to us good sign that soon we will be free from the menace of COVID-19.”

He also said that though the ritual traditional football match between Langdoh from Pynthorwah and Sangot Paswet from Pynthornein known as “Datlawakor” could be not held due to the present pandemic and “the recent heavy downpours and flashfloods have worried us but we pleaded for forgiveness from the Almighty and He forgave us and now we are relieved for this year for our harvest will be surplus.”