Khasi New Year Day celebrated at Shillong

A CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG: The Khasi New Year day was observed in a solemn celebration at Riti Academy, Jaiaw Langsning, Shillong at midnight of November 15. The new year day of the Khasi community is based on the agrarian calculation of the lunar cycle introduced by the renowned writer SpitonKharakor.

Other communities elsewhere in the country and the world have their new year as much as the Khasis observe; and the practice has prevailed among the farmers in every village. But it was never held as a special occasion until last year.

Kharakor said that this motivation for the observation of the new year was triggered during a casual interaction with Herman Nongrum at the second death anniversary of late B NishanWahlang, at the RitiAcademy Recalling his encounter with late Wahlang, Nongrum stated, "I asked Wahlang to define and write something about the concept of TipbriewTipblei, to which he kept the condition that I should let him know about the Khasi New Year Day." However, the metaphorical answer facilitated the actual endeavour to formulate the lunar calendar that was published subsequently.

Nongrum said, "We will start the New Year with the hope for good health and eradication of the menace of COVID-19," which too was adopted as a resolution for the upcoming year. Among the personalities who spoke on the occasion included N Munish Singh and Raphael Warjri, which was followed with the interaction on the topic from among those present on the auspicious occasion.

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