Behdeinkhlam festival of Khasi-pnar celebrated amidst restraint

STAFF CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG: The Behdeinkhlam festival, one of the largest festival of the Khasi-pnar community was celebrated with sombre and gaiety due to the restrictions related to COVID-19.

This religious festival is oberved to drive away plagues and invoke blessings of the Almighty for a better future. This time the ceremonial raths were not immersed in the sacred pool of Aitnar in Jowai Town. The decision was taken as carrying the raths involve a large number of people. "We adhered to the government regulations. However, all the rituals were completed in the right spiritual essence," stated an elder of the Sein Raij Jowai.

There was total adherence to the COVID SOPs throughout the two-and-half hour of the traditional practices. This year, only a few hundreds of faithfuls gathered unlike the past when thousands of people used to converge to witness the festival.

The Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court, Justice Biswanath Somandaar graced the occasion as the chief guest.

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