Shillong, April 8: The 114th Shad Suk Mynsiem came to a close on Monday at Weiking Ground in Shillong with over a thousand dancers taking part in the final day of the annual festival.
The three-day thanksgiving celebration began on Saturday with the ‘Ngi Nohkjat’, where 370 dancers joined in. Sunday saw a bigger turnout with 579 participants, leading up to the grand finale on Monday, which drew a total of 1517 number of dancers.
The Festival held every April, Shad Suk Mynsiem or “Dance of Peaceful Hearts” marks the start of a new agricultural season. It is a way for the Khasi community to give thanks and look ahead with hope for the coming year.
The most striking part of the festival is the dance itself. Men and women perform together, but in a way that reflects the Khasi matrilineal society. Women dance at the centre, symbolising their role as caretakers of the home and lineage. The men, dressed in traditional attire with swords (swaitlam) and whisks (ymphiah), form a protective circle around them. Arrows carried by the men are meant to represent strength, responsibility and leadership.
The women wear their finest traditional silks, along with gold, silver, and coral jewellery. Their headpieces reflect both pride and humility. One key detail is the ‘lasubon’ flower, worn as a symbol of purity and grace — and it holds special meaning in Hynniewtrep culture.
