Shad Nongkrem fest concludes with pomp and gaiety

There were no official greetings from the Governor or the Chief Minister or from the State Secretariat on the auspicious occasion of Shad Nongkrem

STAFF CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, Dec 8: Shad Pomblang, popularly known as Shad Nongkrem, the age-old traditiol festival of the Khasi indigenous people, concluded with pomp and gaiety at Smit village, 24 kms from here.

The concluding day was marked by the ritualistic practices, where the princess of the Hima Khyrim ( Khyrim Chiefdom) lead the dancing maiden in offering obeisance to the almighty for the good harvest season, peace and prosperity of the subjects.

The princess led rituals of the day in facilitating the Syiem (Chief) to finish the traditiol task of asking the gods and the almighty to shower with all their blessings on the people in the next one year. Goats offered by the different villages were sacrificed in the altar of the Syiem( chief )in the quest to have a better and prosperous coming year, so were the other religious and ritualistic bows were made by the Lyngdoh (priest) and other Myntris (Ministers) in the presence of the Chief till late evening.

Preceding the traditiol rituals carried out in the premises of the Khyrim Chief Balajeid Syiem, the maidens and men decked up with traditiol attires and jewellery attires danced to the tunes of the pipes and the beats of the traditiol drums.

Thousands of people pour in the dancing are before the Chief of Hima Kyrim performed his last rite to ensure that the god shower all their blessings for the future betterment of his subjects after a good and prosperous year.

While thousands of people, including domestic and foreign tourist thronged Smit village to have a glimpse of the revered Nongkrem dance, there is a conspicuous absence of the people in the corridors in power.

Barring the Minister of IPR, Ampareen Lyngdoh, Chief Secretary KS Kropha and UDP MLA Remington Pyngrope, none were visible in the last day of the festival. The intrigues further up when there were no official greetings from the Governor to the Chief Minister or from the State Secretariat on the auspicious occasion of Shad Nongkrem.

On every festive occasions, the heartfelt greetings poured in through a departmental agency, yet forget the very lore of wishing the indigenous faithful went unnoticed. Instead, a condolence message of the Governor V Shanmugathan on the demise of Cho Ramaswamy appeared as a paid advertisement appeared in local papers.

Officials in the department concerned said they issue greetings on the basis of directions from the State Secretariat. Chief Secretary KS Kropha could not be contacted over phone till late this evening.