Shillong:
All roads in the city led to Seng Khasi Hall, Mawkhar as close to a hundred people, both young and old, donning their finest traditional attires, flocked to the hall to soak in Shad Suk Mynsiem or “the dance of peaceful hearts” festivities, on April 9.
It was afternoon when the festivities kicked off at the hall. O Pyngrope, vice president of Seng Khasi Kmie, commenced the proceeding with Niam Khasi (Khasi faith) prayer, which he said, “ has been said by those before us for eons.”
Though the rain tried to play spoilsport, it couldn’t dent the zeal of the people and soon, a large number of people gathered at the dais on the ground outside to perform the traditional rites and customs.
As the ground echoed with the rhythmic beats of the traditional drums, participants paid their warm tributes to their ancestors and the creator and prayed for bountiful harvest in the year.
Subsequently, the President of Seng Khasi Kmie, Don Kupar Dkhar, unfurled the Seng Khasi flag in the presence of the followers of the faith.
Shortly after, male dancers, of various ages, gathered to perform the Shad Nohkjat. The first performance was the Mastieh dance accompanied by the lively rhythm of the traditional instruments. The men put up a spirited show as they gradually shifted sideways to form a circle and moved in clock and anti-clockwise directions.
Next, it was the turn of the female dancers. The group, along with a bunch of children, entered the ground clad in their finest silk, gold, silver and corals and at first, paid their homage to the creator, before joining their male counterparts to perform the Padiah, Nalai, and other dances.
While the women and children, with their eyes glued to the ground, danced backwards and forward at the centre, the men occupied the outer circle with waitlam (sword) and sympiah (whisk) in their hands.
The celebrations are scheduled to end on April 11 at the Weiking grounds.