Thousands gather for Meghalaya’s biggest Behdeinkhlam festival

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 23, 2025

The grand finale of the Behdeinkhlam Festival, one of the largest and most vibrant cultural celebrations in the Jaintia Hills, was witnessed by thousands at Tuberkmaishnong, East Jaintia Hills District on July 22.

Organized by Seinraij Tuber, the event saw the presence of Sports Minister Shakliar Warjri, Revenue & Disaster Management Minister and local MLA Kyrmen Shylla, MLAs, JHADC CEM Thombor Shiwat, MDCs, government officials, and a massive gathering of locals and visitors.

The festival, which began on July 19, featured four days of traditional rituals performed by Lyngdoh, Wasan, Sangot, and other religious leaders.

On the final day, 30 villages—19 from East Jaintia Hills and 11 from West Jaintia Hills—brought 64 beautifully crafted Rongs (decorative structures) to sacred pool (Biar Blai). These carried powerful messages on social issues like eradicating HIV, fighting drug abuse, discouraging child marriage, and other public awareness themes.

In their addresses, Shakliar Warjri and Kyrmen Shylla extended warm Behdeinkhlam greetings to all members of Seinraij Tuber. Warjri expressed his joy at how the community continues to preserve their age-old traditions, calling it a valuable lesson for future generations.

Before the Rongs were immersed, the traditional ‘Ia-tan Bhang Blai’ contest—a symbolic tug-of-war, and ‘Iaslait,’ similar to wrestling between the Phangneiñ and Phangwah groups—was held. This year, the Phangneiñ emerged victorious, a sign believed to promise a bountiful harvest on both sides of the region.