Culture of Meghalaya

Meghalaya is rich in its culture and tradition and is one of the most beautiful state. The people of the region are very fond of music and dance. The state of Meghalaya is extremely divine and beautiful.

Tribes of Meghalaya:

A tribe is a group with certain qualities and characteristics that make the society a unique culture. A tribe generally has common languages,customs,rituals,social and religious beliefs. Meghalaya has some of the tribes that have their own characteristics.

Khasi People

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The khasi people are the native people of Meghalaya and are the largest ethnic group in the region with the population bordering the state of Assam and Bangladesh. The language of khasi is categorized as the most Austroasiatic language. And also a small population of khasi live in Bangladesh. The traditional dress Jymphong is the khasi traditional male dress and Jainsem or Dhara is the traditional female khasi dress.

Garo People

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Garo is mainly a tribe of Meghalaya and neighboring areas of Bangladesh and it is the second largest tribe in Meghalaya. The Garo Language mainly belongs to Tibeto-Burman Language. They usually call themselves A-chick Which mainly means the ' hill people'.

Jaintia People

The Jaintia is also know by Pnar a tribe in Meghalaya. The word Jaintia mainly derived from the Jaintia Kingdom known as Syntengs. The origin of Jaintia religion tribe is named as Niamtre.  The Jaintia Hills was established in 1972.

Dance and Music

Meghalaya is the home of music and dances. The dances are mainly associated with festival and are enjoyed throughout the year. The state has a passion for western music and also many rock bands are from this part of the state. And the state has also hosted some of the rock concerts of various national and international level. The instruments which are mainly used by state is drums, guitar and also flutes, pipes and cymbals which are also played.

Nongkrem Dance

Nongkrem dance is a religious festival in Thanksgiving to the God for Peace and Prosperity of the tribe. This is generally held annually during October to November at the Smith, the capital of the Khyrim Syiemship near Shillong.

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Ka Shad Suk Mynsiem

It is a colorful festival which is mainly celebrated during the spring season. It is generally performed by the unmarried girls and have permission to take part in the dance. The girls and boys are usually attired with heavy jewelries during the dance performance.

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Lahoo Dance

Lahoo dance is performed by the female and male for entertainment and are attired in the costumes and are  generally performed by holding arms together for dance step.

Festivals of Meghalaya

Meghalaya is famous for its dance and music as it one of the integral part of their life. The state celebrates many festivals from different races and tribal groups. Some of the festivals that mainly celebrated are

Shad Suk Mynsiem

This festival is celebrated in April of the year. The rituals are mainly conducted by  the family or the Khasi (Hima). The dance signifies the matrilineal and Patrilineal structure of the khasi and is performed by the unmarried girls dressed in their traditional attire and the steps that are performed are mainly slow steps, where as the man circles the women with their swords and whips. It mainly signifies the  man is protector of a woman. The dance is performed at Weiking grounds which is in the city of shillong.

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Nongkrem Dance Festival

It is a festival which is held annually in November and is a five days festival which is celebrated for the harvest of thanksgiving by the khasi tribe. It is one of the most important  festival of the Khyrim state and is held at Smit which about 15 kilometers to the shillong. In this festivals drums and pipes are played  for the occasion for five days.

The main part of the festival is that the women should be virgin and unmarried, who comes to dance for the festival field. The women are usually dressed in their traditional costumes with gold ornaments. The traditional dance is performed by the young men,kids and women of the tribe.

Behdienkhalm Festival

This festival is celebrated by the people of Jaintia Tribe of Meghalaya. Behdienkhlam is generally celebrated to chase away the Demon Of Cholera. 

               

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This festival is one of the most celebrated festival among the Jaintia tribe. This festival is celebrated annually in July. And it is also celebrated for blessings of god for a better harvest. In this festival  Women do not participate in the dancing and the festival is held at Jowai and is one of the most well known festival in Shillong.