Every July, the Pnar (Jaintia) tribe of Meghalaya comes together for a vibrant, four-day festival known as the Behdienkhlam Festival – a celebration steeped in centuries-old tradition, cultural expression, and communal connections.
Rooted in faith and agricultural life, this event marks a dramatic plea to the gods for health, protection, and a prosperous harvest as the monsoon season begins.
Origins & Meaning of The Name
- Name meaning: In the Pnar language, “Behdienkhlam” translates to “driving away (beh-dein) disease or plague (khlam)” – a ritual aimed at purging epidemics like cholera through communal ceremony.
- Mythic roots: Legends tell of Jowai’s land, once ruled by five deities – four stone gods and a river nymph – who performed a sacred dance to summon humans from the forests, setting the symbolic foundation for this annual ritual.
Cultural & Spiritual Significance
- Faith and Purification: This festival is a key ritual within the indigenous Niamtre faith, invoking gods and ancestors to cleanse the community and ensure well-being.
- Harvest and Monsoon: Celebrated post-sowing, Behdienkhlam is a heartfelt appeal to secure a bountiful monsoon-driven harvest.
- Social cohesion: More than ritual, it fortifies social bonds – through shared performance, myth recitation, and mass participation, it cultivates unity across clans and villages.
Timeline & Rituals Overview
Day 1: Invocations & Preparations
- Pig sacrifice to Knia Pyrthat, the thunder god.
- The Wasan (priest) rings a brass bell, leading villagers into the sacred forest to locate and collect fallen tree trunks called khnongs.
- These logs are ceremoniously carried back through towns, marking the start of the festivities.
Days 2–3: Rots & “Cher iung blai”
- Artisans construct tall bamboo pillars—rots—decorated with vivid paper and tinsel, reaching up to 30–40 feet.
- The symbolic demon-slaying ritual “Cher iung blai” sees male tribe members entering a thatched hut and thrusting spears within, designed to vanquish evil.
- With rhythmic beats of drums and pipe music, the rots and logs are paraded to the sacred pool, Aitnar, and ceremoniously immersed.
Competitions and Communal Fun
- Dad-Lawakor: a football-like game played with a wooden ball; winners are believed to receive divine blessings.
- Iatan-Bhang: a playful, muddy tug-of-war using a large log across a trench (Waheitnar) amid cheering crowds.
Day 4: Roof-Beating & Blessings
- Clergy-led youths traverse neighborhoods on the final morning, striking roofs with bamboo poles to expel lingering evil spirits.
Behdienkhlam Dance & Music
Behdienkhlam stands out as an exhilarating dance event, powered by rhythmic drum and flute music. Men, adorned in traditional attire, dance around logs and rots with energetic fervor.
While women do not participate in the dancing itself, they play vital roles through household offerings and ritual food preparation.
Behdienkhlam Festival 2025
- Dates: 11–14 July 2025 (Friday–Monday).
- Main venues: Jowai (West Jaintia Hills), Tuber Kmai (East Jaintia Hills) – both major cultural hubs for this festival.
How To Reach Meghalaya for the Behdienkhlam Festival
Meghalaya, nestled in the northeastern part of India, is well-connected by air, rail, and road. The Behdienkhlam Festival is primarily celebrated in Jowai (West Jaintia Hills), about 65 km from the state capital, Shillong.
By Air
- The nearest airport is Shillong Airport (Umroi Airport), about 35 km from Shillong and 100 km from Jowai. It has limited flights, mainly connecting to Kolkata and Guwahati.
- Guwahati International Airport (Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi Airport), about 160 km from Shillong, is a better option with frequent domestic and international flights. From Guwahati, you can take a taxi or bus to Shillong and onward to Jowai.
By Train
- Meghalaya doesn’t have a functional railway network for passengers yet. The nearest major railway station is in Guwahati, Assam (around 160 km from Shillong). From there, you can continue your journey by road.
By Road
- Shillong to Jowai: Taxis and shared sumos are easily available. The drive takes around 2.5 hours via NH6, offering scenic views of the Khasi and Jaintia Hills.
- From Guwahati: Regular state-run buses (Meghalaya Transport Corporation) and private cabs ply between Guwahati and Shillong. Once in Shillong, Jowai is accessible by local transport.
Cultural & Tourist Perspectives
- Visual impact: This festival is a vivid display of color and energy – tall rots, fervent dances, drumbeats, and massive crowds make it a visual feast.
- Tourist draw: Behdienkhlam draws both domestic and international tourists eager for an immersive cultural experience, while also reinforcing local identity and economic engagement.
- Cultural preservation: As one of the largest Niamtre rituals, it safeguards indigenous beliefs and practices within Meghalaya.
Summing Up
The Behdienkhlam Festival of Meghalaya is far more than an event. It is a deeply spiritual, ritual-filled celebration epitomizing a harmonious relationship with nature.
It honors ancestral traditions, fosters community solidarity, and visually inspires all who witness its energy. For the Pnar people, this annual ritual renews faith and resilience; for outsiders, it offers a powerful glimpse into tribal culture, festive devotion, and the rich tapestry of Meghalaya’s living heritage.
