Jowai, Sept 17: Amidst the huge uproar in the State over a proposed rally to ban beef, the Niamtre followers of Raij Mynso of West Jaiñtia Hills on Tuesday concluded their annual festival known as Behdieñkhlam Behkymphui by sacrificing a cow.
A Hindu group under the aegis of Jagatguru Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwarananda Saraswati has proposed hold ‘Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra’ in Shillong on October 2, which is a rally to ban cow slaughter in the state. The organization hopes to gain momentum in their motive to put a ban on beef in the country.
In the Behdieñkhlam Behkymphui festival a cow is sacrificed every four years and coincidentally, this year happens to be an auspicious occasion where a cow was sacrificed to appease the gods, other years a pig is sacrificed.
Here are the details of the ritual
Festival of the Niamtres is akin to the Behdieñkhlam Festival but has its own uniqueness where it is celebrated to appease Trekirot (God Almighty), Mother Earth, to chase away the plaque, for good harvest and to do away with the evils of the society.
Prior to the conclusion of the festival on Tuesday, a short gathering was held at the Yung Langdoh in the presence of MDC JHADC, Evening Teron, who was the Chief Guest, alongwith the presence of Dolloi of Elaka Jowai, Puramon Kynjing, amongst others.
Post the gathering, the religious heads of the Raij like the Dolloi, Langdoh, Pator and others made offerings to Trekirot and the Guardian Angels of the Raij placed dried fishes along with ginger on a brass plate and rice beer on a dried gourd as offerings.
Following this, the Niamtre believers held a procession and danced to the tune of Bom and Bhuri (Drum and Flute) and carried the Sakymphui (Feathered Stick) from each and every household.
The procession paused at Biar, which is a pool of water providing water all year round for generations, to jump in and to be cleansed.
Eventually, the procession culminated at Dieñyirngam where the ceremonial sacrifice was performed to appease mother nature and seek blessings from God.
