The Meghalaya religion is based on the fear and dread of the supernatural powers. Meghalaya lies in the extreme northeastern region of India. The three major tribes of Meghalaya have distinct costumes and jewellery. (2011) 2,964,007. The different communities have varied customs and traditions. This system is almost unknown to the rest of the country. These twin industries portray the cultural ethos and rich heritage of the people of the State. The evolution of the traditional homes in 1890s with regards to the Earthquake Meghalaya means the “abode of clouds” and is one of the most popular tourist spots in the country. Partha J. Das of Aaranyak, a non-governmental organisation that works on conservation in northeast India, said that these effects simply reinstate the fact that “any watershed, like sacred forests, help in maintaining water bodies and wetlands”. Going by these laws, one is not allowed to marry someone from another clan even after the death of the spouse. The pond water was the source that they would then often turn to. Behdienkhlam is the biggest festival of the Pnars who practice the indigenous Niamtre religion. Pop. Khasi Food - Famous Cuisine of Meghalaya. Here are 10 of these delightful discoveries of the culture of Meghalaya. Just like the traditions, the wedding attire in traditional Meghalaya wedding is also unique and is a unique representation of the culture intrinsic to Meghalaya. “Contamination, in this case, does not mean garbage dumping,” Lyngdoh clarified at the onset. Some of the important festivals are: Wangala : is one of the most important festivals held during the second week of November for two days. Meghalaya is not complete without its music scene. The pond is downhill and the toilet wastewater, from the septic tanks, seeps into the ground. He then went on to form Synjuk, a non-governmental initiative that implemented the Khasi Hills Community REDD+ project, a UN project for forest conservation and sustainable management, that aimed to protect sacred groves and watersheds and replant degraded land. Most of them opted for drinking water sources,” he said. Land Relief and drainage. Hand weaving is much sought after vocation of the artisans here not only in cloth but also in cane. You may also like Nongkrem Dance Festival of Meghalaya. They are devout and practice their faith with fervour. Megalaya is an important state of the north eastern part of India. In our region of Northeast, India breakfast is very ethnic and a Kong from a local shop will come into the offices building each morning and sell traditionally prepared food. Meghalaya is a state of India with a rich folk tradition. HANDICRAFTS OF MEGHALAYA. Behdienkhlam is the biggest festival of the Pnars who practice the indigenous Niamtre religion. With piped water supply under the Public Health Department making its foray into villages, the usage of ponds lessened over time. Talking about the art and craft, the tribes are known for their skills in weaving. In the case of the “contaminated” water bodies in Mawphlang too, Lyngdoh said that it was their work on the conservation of the sacred groves and community forests that helped in the revival of water bodies. Trees reduce the rate of soil erosion, thereby lowering sedimentation of ponds, which is a big problem in northeast India,” Das told Mongabay India. Around 70% part of the state is forest. The architecture of Meghalaya-In India some states have outstanding climates and natural resources, some have fabular culture and traditions and some have tremendous architecture and histories, but what if a single state has all the above thing and still stands as the pleasant natural location with traditional peoples and their own culture. It is sacred,” he said. The Khasi lady wears a dress called ‘Jainsem’ which flows loose to the ankles. The state is endowed with a rich tradition of art and handicrafts. The early history of Meghalaya is not known, the Khasi, Jaintia, Bhoi, War, collectively known as the Hynniewtrep people predominantly inhabit the districts East of Meghalaya, also known to be one of the earliest ethnic group of settlers in the Indian sub-continent, belonging to the Proto Austroloid Monkhmer race. They also wear a turban, headgear and jacket. So we sent a circular to the all villages to come up with a plan of activities, a village development plan, as per their most pressing need. And in this case, Lyngdoh acknowledged that most of the community members raised the issue of revival of the local water bodies when he, as the secretary of the Mawphlang Hima, approached them about their most pressing problem. The rituals, identity and traditions of any state are very well represented by … This is just a small part of the rich culture of the people of Meghalaya. ... which was rejected by the Elders of the society who viewed that tradition cannot be changed like trade or commerce. Land Relief and drainage. People of Meghalaya are also unique in their own tradition and culture-The the state is the home for the three indigenous tribes – Khasi, Garo and Jaintia and … Nature has ensured that all her elements are tightly intertwined, whereby one’s survival or death is dependent on the other. Dakmanda is a short piece of unstitched cotton cloth worn around the waist by the Garo women. The endowed natural beauty of the state owned it the accolade of “Scotland of East”, its awesome weather, the exquisite culture, and traditions of the ethnic tribes of Meghalaya make the state distinctly stand-out from the other states of India. Its summits vary in elevation from 4,000 to 6,000 feet (1,220 to 1,830 metres). An untouched forest that is the soul of Khasi culture, Mawphlang is home to the most celebrated of all the ‘law-kyntang’ or ancient sacred groves of Meghalaya. From 1979 began a series of unrests, mostly ethnic in nature, that continue even to this day in varied degrees and nature. The arrival of Christianity in the mid-20th century signalled the beginning of a decline in tribal musical traditions. Well, before you start learning about the culture of any new place, you should know about its people. Crafts of Meghalaya . Meghalaya is an abode of wonderful handicrafts. It became a state in 1972. The local community in Meghalaya is known for its penchant for cleanliness — Mawlynnong in Meghalaya, a couple of hours from Mawphlang, holds the title of the Cleanest Village in Asia. The state has a very peaceful atmosphere and a serene environment to offer and is home to a number of tribes such as Garo, Khasi and Jaintia. Tambor Lyngdoh, the secretary of Hima, a traditional system of governance in Meghalaya, helped in the revival of water bodies by conducting cleaning drives, tree plantations, awareness programmes, and protection of sacred groves. tarumitra The main tribes of Meghalaya are the Khasis, the Garos and the Pnars or Jaintias. Q.1. As a part of the tradition, a portion of the bride’s wedding attire as well as jewelry is given by the groom. Neolithic sites discovered so far are located in areas of high elevation such as in Khasi Hills, Garo Hillsand neighbouring states. Physically, they are short, muscular and robust with fair complexions. Jaintia women wear blouses paired with sarong which is known as Thoh Khyrwang. Dance performances at weddings, fairs, and other festivals are a common thing in Jharkhand. The state’s economy is largely dependent on the tourism department. These unrests and violence resulted in loss of lives and property and is seldom spoken of in popular discourse. The endowed natural beauty of the state owned it the accolade of “Scotland of East”, its awesome weather, the exquisite culture, and traditions of the ethnic tribes of Meghalaya make the state distinctly stand-out from the other states of India. The bride dresses herself in traditional Khasi outfit for her wedding day. SAMPLE QUESTIONS. “Not only is it (pond/wetland) a source of water, but also nourishes the community with food, like fish and, if there is, aquatic fauna which they can even sell,” he added. April 17, 2017 Shillong Today. To conduct the interviews the below given sample questions were used. Shillong: The Tibetan settlement officer of Shillong, Mr Pema Dhondup accompanied by the office secretary Ms Tenzin Yangchen made a courtesy call on the honourable Governor of Meghalaya HE Satya Pal Malik at Raj Bhavan on 23 November 2020. Full of vibrant culture, tradition, great scenic beauty, and tranquility are some of the attractions of the state that can pull any tourist in. The state has a lot of attractive things with vibrant culture, great scenic beauty, tradition and peace, which attracts millions of tourists. The original religious system of the people is a mix of Hinduism and Pantheism. The Pnar and War people who lived in the erstwhile kingdom of Jañtia have a rich tradition and tales. Some of the effects of these actions were visible. For his work, such as the regeneration of 5,000 hectares of open forests, Lyngdoh was also awarded the NatWest Earth Hero Award this year. Meghalaya—alaya (“abode”) and megha (“of the clouds”)—occupies a mountainous plateau of great scenic beauty. Born Lang said that when the saplings took root and grew taller, the villagers felt it was safer to use the pond water, “because the roots were now aiding in filtration of the wastewater that seeped into the ground from the houses.”. It was quite nice to see so much respect for women in Meghalaya. Born Lang added that with the increasing size of villages, houses came closer to the ponds. Area 8,660 square miles (22,429 square km). This highlights the status of women in Meghalaya which is way different than women in other parts of the country. This place is full of many interesting tribes and the different customs that they follow. From their way of life to the traditions observed, their habits, shopping and food choices, I discovered some unique nuances of this state of Meghalaya. Jainsem is the traditional wear of Khasi women. “In my village, for example, there are more houses closer to the pond now, than earlier. Traditional weddings in Meghalaya are elaborate in nature and are usually preceded by an official engagement of the couple. The ceremony takes place at the abode of the bride and the couple exchange rings or betel nut bags. In the absence of a textile industry, Sericulture and Weaving plays an important role for the production of Silk […] Here are 10 of these delightful discoveries of the culture of Meghalaya. Meghalaya was carved out as a separate state from Assam in 1972. Working on this aspect, Lyngdoh helped in reviving six sacred groves near different villages where re-planting of local tree species was done, widening the periphery of the forest. Predominantly Christian, their society is casteless. Landscape Architecture Firms Adapt to the COVID Recession; The Perceived Flexibility of Electrical Systems in BIM; Displaying Building Energy Usage in AR Women are allowed to marry their nephews on the death of their husbands. Moreover, Meghalaya’s cuisine can be divided into three distinctive styles: Garo, Khasi and Jaintia. ... One of Meghalaya's biggest attractions, "living root bridges" have been a part of the local landscapes for more than a century. Lyngdoh was the secretary of such a Hima from 1996 to 2011. It is celebrated across the Jaintia Hills districts and the largest celebrations happen in Jowai town. The dance forms in the state are dedicated to various events such as social, religious, agricultural and recreational. Meghalaya is an upland area formed by a detached block of the Deccan plateau. Apart from being a nature’s gift to India, Manipur is also a melting pot of culture. 2Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong 793 022 Meghalaya *E-mail: srjoshi2006@yahoo.co.in Received 30.09.11, revised 08.04.13 In the present investigation, various traditional foods consumed by the ethnic Khasi tribe of Meghalaya, India were Traditions of Meghalaya. The … Well I can’t talk about these three office food traditions without including the pervasive Kwai culture in Meghalaya. HANDICRAFTS OF MEGHALAYA. As a part of the tradition, a portion of the bride’s wedding attire as well as jewelry is given by the groom. Meghalaya tribes comprises Garos, Khasis, Pnars and their sub tribes. In Meghalaya, the Khasi tribe is the largest one that has many other sub-tribes namely the Khynriams, the Bhois, and the Wars. Different tribes and culture. For reconciling the spirits the people generally offer … (2011) 2,964,007. It was quite nice to see so much respect for women in Meghalaya. Meghalaya is known to be one of the most beautiful states of North Eastern India. Predominantly Christian, their society is casteless. changing patterns of the tradition of Matriliny in Meghalaya. The Khasis and Jaintias are descendants of the Mongolians whereas the Garos belong to the Tibeto-Burman race. The Khasis are famous for weaving cane mat, stools and baskets. Meghalaya, along with the neighbouring Indian states, have been of archaeological interest. Well, before you start learning about the culture of any new place, you should know about its people. Another source of water that local communities in Meghalaya would often go to are the ponds in the sacred groves or sacred forests of the state. It was India’s first community-based REDD+ project. Shad Nongkrem. Hima is the system of the traditional polity of the local community of Meghalaya, a system of governance by traditional heads. The traditional wear of the men includes a headgear or turban and a dhoti which is stitched. In other words, the community was involved in the afforestation process. “It is a natural process. For instance, during a marriage, the groom and his relatives visit the bride’s house carrying rice beer, betel nut, betel leaves and new clothes, among many other items, which are handed over to the eldest lady of the bride’s family. Other than the tribes, people of Bengali, Marwadi, Nepali and Assamese communities also reside here. Throughout the day, in any office across Shillong, you will experience friends sharing and enjoying kwai. It is a five day festival held in beginning November to offer thanksgiving for a good harvest. The Khasis are famous for weaving cane mat, stools and baskets. Popularly known as Nagpuri dance, Domkach is part of wedding festivities. People of Meghalaya have their typical cooking pattern, which takes place according to the availability of foodstuffs in Meghalaya. Drums, bamboo flutes and small hand-held cymbals are a popular ensemble. One such story is the legend about the many ‘ki Mar’. The Bacardi NH7 Weekender is a yearly event that is much awaited by the music-loving crowd of the state.