Behdieñkhlam Festival’s vibrant celebrations await in Jowai, Meghalaya

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 3, 2023

Jowai is all set for the grand Behdieñkhlam Festival this year! The festival, which lasts for four days and three nights, will begin on July 6 and culminate on July 9. This year’s festival has a theme that includes social issues, politics, environmental protection and the G20 agenda, showcasing its broader significance.

The Behdieñkhlam Festival, also known as “Khlam,” focuses on driving away the plague or pestilence. The main highlight of the festival is the creation of “Dien Khlam” and “Khnong,” which are rounded, polished, and straight tree trunks obtained from the forest. These trunks will be brought to Jowai town.

The youth in various localities of Jowai showcased their artistic skills by designing “rots” to display in the sacred pool, while women are busy with food preparations and cleaning their houses for various rituals. In the nighttime, the youth gather in different localities to dance to the beat of drums, pipes (Tangmuri), and cymbals, welcoming the Behdieñkhlam festival with vibrant celebrations.

The Behdieñkhlam festival is expected to attract tourists from outside the state and abroad, and dignitaries including the Governor of Meghalaya and Minister of Health, Ampareen Lyngdoh, have confirmed their visits. Invitations have also been extended to officials from the Ministry of DoNER and the minister in charge, awaiting their confirmation.

The festival is supported by the Tourism Department and Arts and Culture Department of Meghalaya, highlighting its importance in promoting tourism and preserving the cultural heritage of the region.

President Seinraij Jowai, OR Shallam in a press briefing on Monday said the festival’s primary purpose is to chase away the plague in society, it has now expanded to combat corruption and promote positive change in individual mindsets for a better future. The issue of drug abuse has also been a concern, with recent police confiscations of significant amounts of drugs, including cannabis.

Dolloi Elaka Jowai, Puramon Kynjing, the chief of Elaka, leads all the rituals, and preparations for Behdieñkhlam have been underway since March. He said various rituals, such as “Thoh Langdoh,” “Chad Thoh,” “Knia Khang,” and the recent “Knia Pyrthat,” have been performed to seek protection from the Almighty and to pray for good health, prosperity, and abundant harvest.

The ritual called Knia Pyrthat, dedicated to the Thunder God, with participation from Soo Langdoh. It aimed to strengthen the administration in various raij, including Ialong, Tuber, Chyrmang, and Jowai, all falling under Elaka Jowai, Dolloi said.

General Secretary Seinraij Jowai Arwotki Sumer calls for the cooperation of all Jowai residents and adjoining villages during these four days, as there will be traffic restrictions due to the concentration of ritual places and dances in the heart of Jowai Town in Iawmusiang. He extends greetings for the Behdieñkhlam Festival to all citizens, wishing them a bountiful harvest, prosperity, and good health.

On the developmental project at Aitnar Pool (Sacred Pool), President Seinraij Shallam informs that the work is still in progress. The Entrance Gate and Gallery have been completed, while the festival facilitation centre is still under construction. These development activities have been carried out by Meghalaya Tourism as part of the Development of Infrastructure for Pilgrimage Facilitation in Meghalaya under the PRASAD Scheme.