Shillong, Aug 29: Preserving, promoting and conserving the rich cultural heritage is what the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) is tyring to bring out through the “Monolith Festival” scheduled to be held by October 25 and 26 at the Heritage village at Mawphlang.
Monolith Festival will be one of a kind festival that aims at showcasing to the rich cultural heritage of the Khasi people.
Highlighting the festival, chairman of the Khasi Heritage Conservation Forum Titos Chyne while talking to reporters here on Thursday said, “This is the maiden festival that will be conducted by the KHADC” adding that the festival which will be one of a kind will feature the lifestyle, dances, dwellings, songs, attires,cuisines besides other kinds of the tribe and sub tribes of the Khasi’s.
Altogether, 53 traditional Himas (kingdoms) from different parts of Ri Bhoi, East, West and South West Khasi hills districts will be taking part in the upcoming two days festival whereby they will showcase their rich traditional food, sports, medicines, attires, dance, songs and others., Chyne added.
Famous traditional games like archery and those which were almost forgotten by the present generation will also be displayed. The way of living and way of dressing, traditional way of medication through herbs, folk songs and dances are some of the activities to be displayed during the festival.
Through the two-day festival, the Forum ensure that the visitors get to explore the way of living of the Khasi tribe in which Hima’s will be allotted a plot of land to make traditional huts.
Further, he said that this will not only promote the rich traditions of the Khasi’s to the outside world but at the same time will also revive and rejuvinate the traditions especially to the present generation who seems to have forgotten their own traditions from the advent of modernisation, westernisation and also from the infiltration of the media.
Concerning the rural to urban migration KHADC EM in-charge of finance AN War member of the KHADC informed that the Heritage Festival also aimed at uplifting the livelihood of the people of the state in which they will be provided a platform to showcase their skills thereby given them a chance to sell their works.
“This will further ensure that rural to urban migration in search of employment will reduce. This will open up avenue to the rural people to be self employed and no longer feel the need to move out of their villages.” War said
Besides, KHCF member secretary Alan West feel this festival will also allow the Khasi people to come together and celebrate the rich Khasi cultures.
It was also learnt that there will be varieties of amusement during the festival which includes, archery competition between various Hima’s, trekking, fashion shows to display traditional attires, slow food besides others.
In order to attract the tourists and visitors, it was also informed that recreational centres will be set up at Sacred groove Mawphlang which is also aimed at making it a permanent recreational centres in future.
Accordingly, it was also informed that the Heritage Village which was set up in a 7 acre plot of land has got it amphitheatre different from any amphitheatre.
“The ampi theatre is make out of stones only which was cut into squares,” Allan West informed.
The KHADC is funding up to Rs 40 lakhs for the festival which is expected to take the rich cultural aspects of the Khasis to new heights and also promoting the tourism sector which is one of main priority set by the state government.
Urging the people to participate in the festival, War said, “If it is comfortable for the people, the dress code for the people will be traditional attires.”
Meanwhile, the heritage village which is still under construction is expected to be completed by September.
Besides it was also informed suggestions are welcome from the people in order to bring out the best for the festival.
For queries and suggestions people can log on to the website www.monolithfestivalshillong.com.(SP News)
