JOWAI: People of Jowai celebrated the annual Chad Sukra or the sowing festival amidst pomp and gaiety on Sunday.
Artists from Assam perform the Bihu dance during the Chad Sukra festival in Jowai on Sunday. (ST)
The Festival was organised by the Art and Culture Committee, Sein Raij, Jowai in collaboration with the Department of Arts and Culture, Meghalaya.
Chad Sukra festival is performed annually by the people of Jaintia Hills, particularly those belonging to the Niamtre or traditional faith. Farmers sow their crops only after the festival.
The formal inauguration of the festival was held at Myngkoi Pyrdi, Iongpiah. Several traditional dances were performed by people from the locality.
People from localities like Dulong, Panaliar, Loom Iongkjam, Chilliang Raij and Loom along with youth from the Sein Raij Nangbah, Raid Raliang and Sein Raij, Shillong took active part in the celebration.
The Bihu dance, performed by a group of dancers from Assam, and the Wangala Dance along with a harvesting dance performed by a team from Phlangwanbroi, West Khasi Hills were the highlights of the event at Iawmusiang.
Deputy Chief Minister, Prof RC Laloo and Shillong South MLA, Sanbor Shullai witnessed the celebration as chief guest at Mynkoi Pyrdi, Iongpiah and Iawmusiang respectively.
Addressing the crowd, Shullai said that the Chad Sukra is a festival to honour the mother earth for the blessing that it has given to human kind through the year.
“I am happy to learn that the Chad Sukra was again revived in 2006 after a gap of many decades”, Shullai said. He also lauded the Seinraij Jowai for the initiatives taken to revive and preserve the festival as it is the identity of the indigenous Pnar people.
Earlier on Saturday, the Chad Sukra with a theatrical play, performed by the youths of various localities at Loompyrdi, Iongpiah in Jowai.
Former JHADC chief, Lamdibok Sumer and Chief Forest Officer, JHADC, P Blak attended the programme as the chief guest and guest of honour respectively.
Earlier, thousands of Niamtre faithful from various localities along with members of Sein Raij Ummulong and Sein Raij Shillong participated in a cultural procession organized from Loompyrdi Iongpiah to Iawmusiang and back to Iongpiah via Tpep-pale, Dulong, Panaliar and Loomiongkjam.
The Pnars believe that before they set foot on their respective fields and start cultivating the crops, one should offer a prayer to the God so that the crops will be protected from natural calamities.
27 окт 2024
