Annual Behdeinkhlam festival celebrated in Meghalaya's Jaintia Hills

Shillong, Aug 5 (ANI): The annual four-day-long festival 'Behdeinkhlam' was celebrated with great enthusiasm in Meghalaya's Jaintia Hills.

Thousands of people belonging to the Pnar, an indigenous religion, participated in the procession and festivities. They celebrate the festival to prevent natural calamities like plagues, pestilence and epidemics.

The festival organised by the Sein Raij Jowai is celebrated after the sowing season. It also seeks the blessings of god for peace, prosperity and a good harvest.

Over the years, the organisers have been using the event as a platform to denounce corruption, spread more information about drug abuse and raise awareness levels in the society.

"The festival is celebrated to drive away plague and all social evils which affects the society," said O.R. Challam, elder of Sein Raij, Jowai.

Sumar Sing Sawian, another elder of Sein Raij, Jowai said, "We hope that Behdeinkhlam brings about peace in the state, health, wealth for everybody."

Participants danced to the beat of the traditional drums carrying a spiritual log of wood and colorful structures of traditional paper monuments known as 'Rots', signifying various evils.

These structures are immersed and dismantled on the last day of the festival at a pool called 'Aitnar' at Iongpiah Lumpyrdi locality signifying the triumph of good over evil. By D Henpilen (ANI)