Meghalaya, a state in northeastern India, is home to a number of folk dances that are both colorful and varied because of the state's many different indigenous communities. Here are the four spectacular folk dances in Meghalaya:
The Khasi community has a traditional dance called the Nongkrem Dance, which is performed during the annual 5-day long Nongkrem Festival. This is celebrated to thank the Almighty for a good harvest and also to seek his blessings for the future. Young Khasi women wear colorful traditional attire and jewelry while performing the dance. They move in rhythmic patterns to the beats of traditional Khasi music, which is played using instruments such as drums and flutes. The dance is performed in front of the high priestess, who sits on a raised platform and offers prayers and blessings to the dancers. The high priestess also performs a special ritual known as the Pomblang Ceremony, in which she offers sacrifices to the deity of the Khasi people. To sum up, we can say that the Nongkrem Dance is an important part of the cultural heritage of the Khasi community in Meghalaya, and is performed with great enthusiasm and devotion. It is also a popular attraction for tourists and visitors to the region, who can witness the beauty and vibrancy of this traditional dance form firsthand.
Wangala Dance is a traditional dance form of the Garo community, performed during the Wangala Festival. It is celebrated to thank the gods for a bountiful harvest. The dance is performed by a group of male and female dancers who move in rhythmic patterns to the beats of traditional Garo music. The dancers are decked out in vibrant traditional clothing, including elaborate headpieces made of bamboo and feathers. A sacred pillar called the "Siju" serves as the backdrop for the dance, and it is widely regarded as a symbol of the strength and cohesion of the Garo people as a whole. The pillar is decked out in floral arrangements and leaves, and sacrifices are made to the gods at its base.
Shad Suk Mynsiem Dance is a spring dance of the Khasi community in Meghalaya. It is also known as the "Dance of the Happy Hearts" or Shad Weiking. It is performed during the Shad Suk Mynsiem Festival, which is celebrated to welcome the spring season. The dance is performed by young Khasi men and women who wear colorful traditional attire and jewelry. This festival features traditional dances performed by unmarried Khasi men and women who pay homage to the Almighty and their ancestors while affirming the unity of the Khasi community. Previously known as 'Shad Phur,' the Ka Shad Suk Mynsiem Festival is highly anticipated by the entire Khasi community, and it was first organized at Weiking Grounds on April 14th, 1911, and later at Mawkhar for a few years. The Khasi people consider the Ka Shad Suk Mynsiem dance an essential aspect of their heritage, performed to the rhythmic beats of drums, cymbals, and the Tangmuri's piping sound.
The Doregata Dance Festival is distinctive for its unadulterated joy and fun. It is a celebration of life. While most Meghalayan festivals focus on praying for a plentiful crop, this one brings men and women together in a very different way. During the festival, the ladies get a chance to remove the bright turbans from the men's heads, but they can only use their heads to do so! The dance is as fun as it sounds. It is definitely as great event to attend.
