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Friday, April 26, 2024
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Ka Pomblang Nongkrem or Shad Nongkrem is the most important and elaborate festival of the Khasis in Meghalaya. This five day long colourful festival, is held annually in November at Smit, the capital of the Khyrem Syiemship near Shillong. It is an occasion for thanksgiving to the all powerful Gddess Ka Blei Synshar for a rich harvest and prosperity of the people.
An important part of this festival is Pomblang (decapitation of goats) Ceremony, at which goats offered by subjects to the 'Syiem' of Khyrem, are sacrificed and offerings are made to the ancestor and ancestress of the ruling clan and the deity of Shillong peak (U-Lei Shillong). The 'Syiem' is the administrative head of the Hima (Khasi State). 'Ka Syiem Sad', the eldest sister of the king is the chief priest who presides over the ceremonies. A sanctification ceremony of the Tangmuri (pipes) as queen of the musical instruments, form part of the ritual. After the religious rituals, on the fourth day, Khasi men and women, dressed in traditional splendour, perform the famous Nongkrem dance.
At drawn-break on that day a maiden dance is held in which virgins from the 'Syiem' house take part and the Syiem Sad shaded by an umbrella, dance with great solemnity. This is called an opening dance or royal dance which is generally done by the 'Syiem' before the dance starts. For the Nongkrem dance, young lads brilliantly clad in colourful silk dhotis, coat and a plumed turban, adorning glittering ornaments dance around with a sword or spear in one hand and usually a white Yak hair whisk in their left hand, keeping time to the changing beats of drums and playing of the Tangmuri (pipes). Pretty maidens in magnificent silk-robes and elaborately decked in priceless intricately designed ornaments of gold and silver and wearing a silver crown move in an inner circle in two's and three's in tiny steps while the lads form a protective ring around them flashing their weapons. The men's dancing is more vigorous and energetic. The festival ends on the Fifth day with the ' Syiem' offering a prayer of thanks giving to the Creator.
