Tuber Behdeinkhlam Festival: Niamtre faithful say no to Railway in Jaintia Hills region

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 17, 2023

The three-night and four-day annual traditional Behdeiñkhlam festival of the Seinraij Tuber came to a close on Monday with pomp and gaiety at Biar ka Blai, Tuberkmaishnong village, East Jaintia Hills District.

Attendance of over ten thousand faithful, both young and old witnessed the festival.

The Pnars believe that ‘Beh’ means drive, ‘Dein’ means stick, and ‘Khlam’ means plague; Behdeinkhlam means to drive away the plague with sticks.

Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, Revenue Minister Kyrmen Shylla, Deputy Chief Executive Member JHADC Lasky Rymbai, Deputy Commissioner, East Jaintia Hills Abhilash Baranwal, leaders of Seinraij Tuber Harvis Phawa, Jolby Sana, Dolloi Elaka Jowai Puramon Kynjing, and others were present on the occasion.

Tuber Behdieñkhlam is one of the biggest Behdieñkhlam festivals organized by the people who still follow traditional religion in the Jaintia Hills.

Addressing the gathering, Sniawbhalang Dhar appreciated the grand celebration of Behdeinkhlam to preserve the rich cultural heritage of the state.

He expressed hope that the festival would bring unity, peace, and prosperity to the people and the state as a whole.

Regarding the developmental project at Biar Ka Blai, it includes the construction of a public gallery, museum, cultural center, public toilet, and VIP parking. As the number of visitors is increasing from year to year, the Deputy Chief Minister stated that he will take up the matter with the government to find ways and means to support the Seinraij Tuber financially.

He also mentioned that, through a specially crafted structure known as rot, the faithful Niamtre send a message to fight against drug menace and crimes against children and women afflicting the society.

Interestingly, he avoided commenting on the Roster System and Reservation Policy, which some rots carry a message to rectify the policy. The Niamtre sent a clear message that they are against the railway line in East Jaintia Hills.

In a memorandum to the Deputy Chief Minister, Seinraij Tuber requested the Government of Meghalaya to annually sanction funds for the Behdeinkhlam Festival to cover the expenses related to the preparation and celebration of the festival, including maintenance, cleaning, and painting of Behdeinkhlam sites such as Biar Blai, all Duwan Sites, Iung Longdoh, Lung Duwan, Monument Site of U Woh Tep Kyndait, Public Gallery, and VIP Gallery.

The festival witnessed a colorful display of 65 Rots or Raths (paper monuments) at the Biar Ka Blai, a sacred muddy pool. All rots were brought by Niamtre faithful from various parts of Jaintia Hills, including Khliehtyrshi, Madur, Mupyut near Jowai, Jalaphet from Sutnga area, and others from the Tuber area.

Faithful of Niamtre representing different villages, over 30 in total, both young and old, danced to drum beats and pipes while carrying their respective rots to Biar ka Blai, the sacred pool.

Among other important rituals performed on Sunday were ‘Knia Ryngkaw,’ an offering to the Goddess who guards over the Raij, performed by the Priest or “Longdoh,” assisted by Religious Elders at Mukoi Ryngkaw.

“Beh Khlam” is another ritual performed early in the morning, where hundreds of members of the Seinraij at Tuber, each holding a stick, run from West to East of the village, beating anything on their way to drive away the Plague.

The last two rituals performed before and after immersing all rots brought to Biar ka Blai were ‘Ka Iatan Bhang Blai’ which is similar to a tug-of-war game, and ‘Iaslait,’ similar to wrestling, in which two of the strongest men compete against each other. The Ka Iatan Bhang Blai is a tug-of-war between a group representing the Phang Nein or the North and the Phangwah or the South. This year the northern part, Phang Nein, won the game, and it is believed to bring more fertility.