In News:

The Behdeinkhlam Festival, a vibrant cultural and religious celebration of the Pnar community in Jowai, Meghalaya, was recently observed with great enthusiasm. Blending age-old indigenous rituals with contemporary social messages, the festival reflects the rich cultural heritage and evolving societal concerns of the Jaintia Hills region.

Etymology and Meaning

• The term “Behdeinkhlam” comes from the Pnar language:
  • “Beh Dien” – to drive away with sticks or prayers.
  • “Khlam” – refers to plague, pestilence, or disease.
• Thus, the name signifies a ritual expulsion of illness, evil spirits, and misfortune, historically associated with diseases like cholera.

Cultural and Religious Significance

• Primarily celebrated by the Pnars, a sub-tribe of the Jaintia community, the festival is a symbolic act of:
  • Protecting society from disease.
  • Invoking blessings for a bountiful harvest.
  • Promoting community health, peace, and prosperity.
• It plays a crucial role in preserving the Niamtre faith, the indigenous religion of the Jaintia people, through intergenerational participation in ritual practices.

Timing and Duration

• Held annually in July, right after the sowing season, the festival lasts for three days.
• The timing is agriculturally significant, linking health rituals with hopes for a successful farming cycle.

Key Rituals and Celebrations

• Symbolic Rituals:
  • Men go around beating the roofs of houses with bamboo poles to drive away evil spirits and symbolic disease.
  • Tree trunks known as Dein Khlam and Khnong—rounded, straight, and polished—are brought from the forest and used in the main rituals.
• Community Processions:
  • A sacred wooden post called Symbud Khnong is carried around the town and installed as a spiritual safeguard.
• Gender Roles in Rituals:
  • Men perform dances, carry the sacred logs, and lead the processions.
  • Women play a vital ceremonial role by preparing sacrificial food for ancestral spirits.
• Dance and Music: On the final day, the community gathers at Aitnar, where both young and old dance to the rhythmic beats of pipes and drums.
• Dad-Lawakor – Traditional Game: A unique football-like game called Dad-lawakor is played at Mynthong, showcasing indigenous sporting traditions and community bonding.

Contemporary Relevance

• In recent years, the festival has evolved to incorporate modern themes such as:
  • Awareness against drug abuse
  • Prevention of alcoholism
  • Climate change consciousness
• These additions reflect a harmonious blending of tradition and modernity, where festivals serve both spiritual and civic functions.