Description

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Context

The sacred Behdeinkhlam Festival was enthusiastically celebrated in Jowai, Meghalaya, combining old Pnar traditions with contemporary societal issues.

About Behdeinkhlam Festival

Cultural Role	Major religious and cultural festival of the Pnar (Jaintia) community in Meghalaya
Location	Celebrated in Jowai, West Jaintia Hills
Meaning	The term Behdeinkhlam means “driving away the plague or evil.”
Timing	Held in mid-July, after the sowing season
Purpose	Prayers for a good harvest and cleansing of the community
Faith	Observed mainly by followers of the Niamtre religion
Women’s Role	Women offer food to ancestors but do not participate in ritual dances

Rituals for the Behdeinkhlam Festival

The major attraction of the celebration was the creation of Dein Khlam and Khnong, which are rounded, polished, and straight wood trunks from the forest.
During the cultural festival tour, young men pounded the roofs of each house with bamboo poles as a symbolic gesture to drive away evil spirits, plague, and disease.
It lasts three days, and on the last day, in the afternoon, people congregate in an area called Aitnar, where both young and elderly dance to the melodies of pipes and drums.
On the final day, people would gather in Mynthong to watch a game akin to football known as dad-lawakor.

FAQs

Q1. Where is the Behdeinkhlam Festival celebrated?
It is celebrated in Jowai, West Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya, by the Pnar (Jaintia) community.

Q2. What is the significance of the Behdeinkhlam Festival?
The festival, meaning “driving away the plague or evil,” is held after the sowing season to pray for a good harvest and community cleansing.

Source: Newsonair