Shad Suk Mynsiem fest begins today

SHILLONG, April 6:  Khasi men and women in thousands will celebrate ‘Shad Suk Mynsiem’ (Dance of the Happy Hearts)) in various parts of Meghalaya to mark the harvest season and also to pay obeisance to God from tomorrow. The Shad Suk Mynsiem is celebrated in the month of April and will start on April 7 and conclude on April 9. This festival is celebrated as a mark of thanksgiving to mother ture for good harvest and for fresh sowing of seeds. During the celebration both men and women participate in the dance where steps of women are subtle, whereas those of men are more energetic.

Only unmarried women participate in the dance. The dance begins with drums, flutes and cymbals picking up the tempo. Two circles are formed with women on the inside ring and men on the outer ring.

With eyes down, the women take small steps forward and backward as they gradually shift sideways to move in a circle.

They keep their body straight and arms loose at shoulders. The men do a more energetic dance with swift movements in clockwise and anticlockwise direction around women. Men play the part of protectors for the women.

The Shad Suk Mynsiem dance is also symbolic of women fertility where they are receptacles of seeds and bearers of fruit, and men are cultivators who plant, cultivate and nurture the seeds until they are harvested.