Seinraij Jowai to allow only vaccinated people to be part of Behdieñkhlam festival
The Seinraij Jowai on Friday announced its decision to celebrate the age-old Behdienkhlam, a festival to drive away plague, to its fullest along with all COVID-19 safety guidelines that include allowing only vaccinated people to part take during the rituals.
“Khlam” means ‘Plague or Pestilence’ and “Beh Dien” means to drive away the plague with sticks and religious fervor.
Comprehensive standard operating procedures (SOP) have been put in place as part of the preparation for the four-day festival of the pnar people in the Jaintia Hills region, which will commence from July 8 to 11.
“We wish that the Behdeiñkhlam Festival 2021 is celebrated to its fullest and significance by performing all aspects of religious importance. And nevertheless, will not be overlooked the safety measure and Covid 19 protocols,” OR Shallam, president of the Seinraij Jowai told reporters.
He said the SOPs have been prepared after taking into consideration the importance of the Behdeinkhlam festival to the indigenous faith and the safety measures in performing the festival during the present atmosphere of the COVID-19 situation.
Shallam said big crowds will remain temporarily suspended for this year’s festival too and all participants selected by the localities and who are vaccinated will be allowed.
“A person (s) with COVID-19 symptoms, although vaccinated will (also) not be allowed to take part,” he said while adding that people who are above the age of 60 years and children below the age of 12 years will be restricted from taking part during the festival..
“No audience will be entertained in all the events/religious ceremonies of the Behdeiñkhlam Festival, 2021. No devotees will be allowed to witness the festival at all the events/religious ceremony as usual except the limited selected members,” he added.
The SOPs also said that the festival will observe the prayers, libation and oblation, rituals and an act of beating the roofs with sticks by offering prayers to the almighty God to bless the family and to drive away plague, pest and an evil spirit from the house.
It further added that in all religious events participated by locality at Ïawmusiang are limited to 40 persons only at one event (means at one free space location) in their respective places maintaining the Covid 19 precautionary etiquette.
Behdeiñkhlam is so named as the festival designed for driving away plague and pest with a sacred log ‘Ka Deiñkhlam’.
This year, all the Deiñkhlam i.e ‘Ka Khnong Blai’, ‘Ka Symbood Khnong’ and ‘Ka Deiñkhlam of all the localities’ will be part of the Festival. All localities are restricted in that they shall fetch “Ka Deiñkhlam” which will be able to carry only 20 persons, it said.
The escorts of Ka Deiñkhlam along with the beating of drum (Ka Choh Bom), to whistle and blow the musical pipe (Ka PutBhuri), Beating of the Chew Chew (A plate like musical instrument), Ka Bikur (the Trumpet) shall be only of 10 persons, it added.
Construction of Rong and Rots which can be carried only by 10 persons will be part of the festival to symbolize the magnificence of the Behdeiñkhlam Festival 2021 with the Celebration of 50th Meghalaya Statehood and the 75th year of India’s Freedom Celebration.
All religious places will be installed with facilities of Washing Basin and Soap.
Personal distance and wearing of double masks are to be strictly adhered to 10. Outsiders are not allowed to take part in the festival and all the participants will be provided with proper badges.
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