Ka Pomblang Nongkrem Festival

Ka Pomblang Nongkrem Festival, starting from the 1st of November 2007 to the 30th of November 2007, takes place at Smit, the capital of Kheyrem Syiemship, near Shilong, Meghalaya.

The Ka Pomblang Nongkrem Festival Meghalaya celebrates the harvest season. It is considered to be the most eminent festival of the 'Khasi' community.

The Ka Pomblang Nongkrem Festival Shilong has several rituals among which the decapitation of goats known as Pomblang ceremony, is the most important one. The ceremony includes the process of offering goat to the 'Syiem' of Khyrem, the administrative head of Hima (Khasi state).

The goats are sacrificed and then the process is followed by offering it to the ancestors of the ruling clan as a symbol of respect. Ti is also offered to the deity of Shilong peak.

Syeim Sad, the eldest sister of the king inaugurates the festival, as she acts as the head priest of the event. By the fourth day as the rituals get over, the people get dressed in their traditional attire, ready to perform their traditional dance known by the name of 'Nongkrem'.

On the day of the inauguration of the festival, a royal dance performance takes place at the dawn. Young girls from the Syiem family participate in the dance . Even the Syeim Sad dances guarded by an umbrella. Young girls and boys dressed in silk dresses of different hues, make the event a whirlpool of colors.

Sword dances, music coming out of the instrument known as 'Tangmuri', drum beats, colorful dresses and gorgeous jewelry worn by the locals, the dances... all add up to the mood and grandeur of the festival. The Ka Pomblang Nongkrem comes to an end with the thanksgiving ceremony to the divine creator, by the syeim.

Calendar 2007 Events January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 Calendar 2008 Events