Garos welcome New Year with 'Song Krittan' in Meghalaya

A CORRESPONDENT

TURA: The Garo Hills bade adieu to the festive season with more than one lakh people gathering at the Bangsi Apal School playground for the annual 'Song Krittan'. Held every year on the same day and the same place, the event is one of the biggest post-New Year celebrations in the region.

Song Krittan is a heady mix of song and dance with thousands of people being part of a group that sings and dances for the glory of the Lord and His blessings. It derives from the word kirtan, which is a form of religious performance connoting a musical narration and shared recitation. Early Songsareks were inspired by the kirtan performed by their neighbours from Assam, which later evolved into a unique version for the Garos.

Song Krittan begins prior to the advent of Christmas and continues into the New Year. While Song Krittan has been performed in all parts of the Garo Hills over the years, the annual event at Dainadubi has gained immense popularity.

The tradition of Song Kristan involves the beating of drums, cymbals and songs to thank the Almighty for a peaceful Christmas. The tradition involves men, women and children who all rally to music and celebrations.

Thousands performed Song Kristan in the border villages of Assam and Meghalaya. The unique Garo celebration at Bangsi Apal in the North Garo Hills is one of the most awaited annual gatherings. Being a border village, the celebration becomes even more important as it involves Garos from both Meghalaya and Assam.

"We collectively get together to continue our celebrations over Christmas and the New Year to mark the fact that we are all together with our culture," said JG Momin, an adviser of the organisers. Nishangram and its surrounding areas are historically significant for the Garos because of having had the first Garo Christians in the region.

More than 20 border villages were involved in the event on Sunday and many more came from across the Garo Hills on the Assam side and even abroad, said MR Shira, a resident of Dainadubi in the North Garo Hills.

"I have been a part of this celebration for over a decade. This is how we celebrate the Christmas season in the Garo Hills," said the president of this year's Song Krittan Committee.

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