Meghalaya Festivals

Wangala

Wangala is also known as Dance of Hundred Drum festival. It is an important festival of the people of Garo hills.
The festival takes place annually in November. This is a week long festival.

This festival marks the end of a period of work, indicating a yield of good harvest. The festival is celebrated in an honour of 'Satyong', the God of fertility. Young and old people dressed in their colourful costumes and feathered head dress, dance to the beat of long cylindrical drums.

Shad Suk Mynsiem

Shad Suk Mynsiem is an important festival of the people of Khasi Hills. This festival is also known as the Dance of the joyful heart. The festival lasts for three days. In the festival an annual thanksgiving dance takes place. The festival is held in Shillong in the month of April

Men and women, dressed in traditional fineries dance to the accompaniment of drums and the flute

Behdienkhlam

Behdienkhlam is an important festival of the people of Jaintia Hills. The festival is celebrated annually in the month of July after the sowing period.

Young men make a representative sign of driving away of the evil spirit, disease and virus by beating of the roof of every house with bamboo poles. Also poles of great length are held across the stream Wah-Ait-Nar. People jump on the poles and break them while dancing in the muddy pool of water. A large pole is placed across the stream and two groups contend for the possession of the pole.

In the festival people pray God and seek his blessings for a good harvest. The women however do not participate in the dancing, as they have an important function of offering sacrificial food to the spirits of the ancestors.

Nongkrem

Nongkrem Dance is a religious festival in thanksgiving to God Almighty for good harvest, peace and prosperity of the community. It is held annually during October/ November, at Smit, the capital of the Khyrim Syiemship near Shillong.