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Nongkrem Dance
 State
:
Meghalaya, in the north east of India.
Time
:
Generally, in the month of November, every year.
Venue
:
Smit, the cultural centre of the Khasi Hills in Meghalaya, India is about 11km from Shillong
Know the Nongkrem dance Festival
The Khasis have two important festivals - Nongkrem Dance held in Oct. / Nov. and Shad-Suk Mynsiem, held in April. Nongkrem Dance is held annually for five days together. It is a religious festival for thanksgiving to God Almighty for good harvest and to pray for peace and prosperity in the community. It is celebrated in the month of November. An important part of this festival is 'pomblang' or decapitation of the goats, offered by the subjects to the Syiem of Khyrim. The Syiem is the administrative head of the state. Offerings are made to the ancestors of the ruling clan.
The Rituals of Nongkrem Dance Festival
The Syiem of Khyrim along with the high priest performs the Pemblang ceremony. He offers oblation to a Lei Shyllong; the god of Shyllong peak by sacrificing a cock. An important part of this festival is Pemblang (sacrifice of goats). Then offerings are made to the ancestor and ancestress of the ruling clan to the first uncle to the deity of Shillong peak.
The Activities in the Nongkrem Dance Festival
Religious part of the festival precedes dances, in which unmarried girls in all their exotic costumes participate. The men's dancing is naturally more vigorous and energetic. They hold a sword in their right hand and usually a white Yak hair whisk in their left hand, keeping time to the changing beats of drums and playing of the tangmuri or pipes.
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