Exploring Shillong Magazine by Reginald Sunn

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Contents

Scenic shillong...............................................................................................4

The Behdienkhlam Festival..................................................................6 No Boundaries............................................................................................. 10 Garden of Monoliths............................................................................... 14 Road Less Travelled................................................................................ 18 M A G A Z I N E

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We as a team at “Exploring Shillong” came up with the idea of publishing this magazine with an objective to capture the immense beauty that the nature has to offer and we truly believe that only by knowing more about Mother Nature we’ll understand the true value and importance of preserving it. We also want to discover more about the beautiful people and the place we are lucky to live in and finally the most important reason for publishing this Magazine is to give information and a souvenir to the ample number of tourists who visit Shillong every year, a memory they can cherish for their lifetime.

Editor & Publisher Sumit Ghosh

Detour at Arwah.........................................................................................20 Halfway to Paradise................................................................................ 22 Life growing up in Shillong................................................................24 Human Sacrifice.........................................................................................26 A Family Affair.............................................................................................. 27

Assistant Editor Anthony Lyngdoh

The Pilgrimage Cave of Mawjymbuin........................................28

Contributors Serafina S. Mawthoh

Stairway to Heaven..................................................................................30

Photographers Sumit Ghosh Ratnadeep Aloke Kar Design Reginald Sunn (+91 879 440 2118) Printed by Eastern Panorama Offset Keating Road, Shillong

Explorer.............................................................................................................29 Folktale of Tung Rymbai & the Dog at Luri Lura...............32 Getting there is half the fun...............................................................36 Nohkalikai: A tale of a Mother’s Love.........................................38 Where God resides..................................................................................40 The UFO Mystery......................................................................................42 Music: Heartbeat of Shillong............................................................46 The Christian Faith.................................................................................... 47 God’s Own Abode....................................................................................48 Heaven on Earth........................................................................................52 Journey within a Journey....................................................................56 Cleanliness has its own reward......................................................58 Food & Music: Match made in Heaven.....................................59 Underground Adventure.................................................................... 60 World War II Memorabilia................................................................... 61 Indian Air Force...........................................................................................62 Experience the Rich Heritage of North East under one Roof..........................................................63 The Matrilineal Society.........................................................................64 Red FM 93.5: Absolute Entertainment.......................................65

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Scenic Shillong S

hillong the scenic capital of Meghalaya, derives its name from the highest peak of the Town “Shillong peak (1965 mts above sea level,” also bearing the title of being called ‘Scotland of the east’ because of its resemblance with Scotland in terms of Natural Beauty and hills. According to a legend the city got its name from a mythical youth, U Shyllong, A supernatural youth born out of a

immaculate conception of a virgin mother name Lir, who lived is Bissi a Village near Mylliem14 Km south of Shillong, Lir gave Birth to a Beautiful still born child whom she buried in her Garden. Many years later she was awakened at midnight by the noise of a large crowd, As she opened the door a tall handsome youth stepped forward and said “Mother I am the little boy you buried in the garden, don’t be afraid you are my earthly mother

and have come to bestow democratic governance and rule of justice” U Shyllong (The one who grows naturally) was in fact the presiding deity of Shillong and the phrase “Khot Shillong” (called Shillong) is still used as a prayer in times of catastrophe, peril or even personal misfortune. In the year 1864, the British made Shillong the civil station of the Khasi and the Jaintia hills. Shillong was the capital of Assam till

21st January 1972 until the creation of new state Meghalaya “Abode of clouds”. It can be regarded as the Cosmopolitan cities amongst the hill station, because of its existence with different people from different communities living together and not only co existing together but what makes Shillong more beautiful is the people; every religion is being respected and celebrated together irrespective of caste, creed, religion or sex.

The story of the supernatural Youth courtesy Shillong tourism 4

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THE

BEHDIENKHLAM

FESTIVAL by Anthony Lyngdoh

he Behdienkhlam Festival is the most important and the biggest festival of the Jaintia community. During the time of the festival, people pray for their property, good health and seek blessings for a bountiful harvest. The festival is celebrated all over the Jaintia Hills District with the grand spectacle taking place at Jowai, which is about 64 kms. away from Shillong. The festival is observed by the Pnars who are non-christians and who belong to the traditional faith of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Niamtre.â&#x20AC;? Legend has it that the town of Jowai was once covered by a thick forest, without any form of human existence. It is said that it was the home of five deities. These deities wished that God would create human beings and send them to settle there. Their wish was granted when a wandering Mongolian Tribe arrived in these forests. Expressing great joy at their arrival,

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“U Mokhai” who was the eldest began to dance.The thunder of the dancing deity scared the travellers who began to flee but the deity addressed them and manage to convince them to stay. Agreeing to him they decided to stay back and make it their new home. Much later there was a great famine which took place in which the people of Jowai asked “U Mokhai” for help. He instructed them to perform a community festival after the sowing season and so Behdienkhlam remains the primary festival of the Jaintias till this very day.

Behdienkhlam Festival

The festival is celebrated for three days in Jowai Town during the month of July. People dance on the street to the accompaniment of drums beating and the sound of pipes playing in the background. The women do not participate in this dance but they play an important role by offering sacrificial food to the spirits of their ancestors. Each locality prepares a decorative tower like structures called a “Rot,” they come in all shapes and sizes and in so many vibrant colours each having its own meaning with a message to spread. 30 to 40 strong people carry these structures to be immersed in a small muddy pool called “Aitnar.” The festival climaxes when the “Khnong” (a sacred tree) is brought to the centre of each locality. In the afternoon, datlawakor is played between two teams from the upper and lower valleys of the Myntdu River. It is a kind of a soccer game played bare feet with a wooden ball. Those who win are believed to be blessed with a good harvest. 8

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No Boundaries B

orhill Falls what makes it different from any other falls is that one side you will see the Falls and on the opposite end you will see Bangladesh and you can enjoy both the view from the very same Bridge.

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When it flows under the bridge and crosses over to Bangladesh It will make you realise, that Nature is the most powerful Deity of all and it doesn't belong to any country, people or religion, it belongs to us, all living beings and we must love and respect it.

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Borhill Falls 12

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GARDEN OF MONOLITHS N

artiang in Jaintia Hills has the largest cluster of Monoliths at one place in the state and the site has been declared of national importance under the Ancient Monument and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1958 (24 of 1958).

Nartiang Monoliths 14

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Nartiang Monoliths

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ROAD LESS

Travelled R

oad-Less-Travelled: Byrdaw Falls located in Pomshutia village is surely one of the less visited falls, as the trek towards the falls is quite tiring and slippery but at the same time this trek will give you an experience of a lifetime where you will forget about the long trek and admire the beauty, power and peace the nature possesses.

Byrdaw Falls

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Detour at

Arwah W

ell everyone rushes to Sohra (Cherrapunjee) to visit the all famous cave of Mawsmai, but a recently discovered cave of Arwah-Lumshynna Tourist Hub at Pdengshnong is also gaining popularity amongst visitors for its magnificent viewpoint giving you a landscape view of the mountains, and the walk to the cave is altogether another adventure which will give chills

if you frightened of heights, as it looks like the cave is set up at the top of the cliff. Inside the Limestone cave you can even discover fossils but this is not a easy task as it seems like, it's better to get a guide which is available at the check gate to really assist you to see the real fossils instead of viewing an imaginary fossil which you would believe.

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Paradise HALFWAY TO

rangsurifalls is one of the most beautiful and distinct falls you will ever see, a mystic and a hidden gem of nature located at Amlarem in the Jaintia hills district will give you goosebumps with its enchanting beauty and will take you halfway to paradise.

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LIFE GROWING UP IN

worries just take a chill pill and enjoy your stroll around the city.

SHILLONG

by Serafina S. Mawthoh

am indeed blessed and lucky to have been born and brought up in “Shillong”. Yes, it may not be the same as other big cities but it has a different vibe all together. People of this city are very friendly, they can socialize with anyone without differentiating them on the basis of caste, creed, or religion. They treat everyone equally and are welcomed to this city with equality and are given the right to enjoy their freedom just as the people who reside here. Since it is a metropolitan city we all come together to celebrate the festivalsDurga Puja, Diwali, Christmas. We respect the sentiments and cultures of others as well. My personal experience in growing and being brought up in a city like Shillong has its own kind of beauty. Since it is an Education Hub, I’m lucky enough to get the opportunity to study in such good institutions like St. Mary’s Hr. Sec. School and St. Anthony’s Hr. Sec. School because I owe my gratitude for the love and care they have given me, motivating and moulding me. They have taught me the values of life. The best thing about Shillong is that equal status is given to both boys and girls in the field of education and sports. Girls are also given the right to enjoy their freedom fully. Living 24

in a mixed society I have learnt to speak Hindi, English and somehow understand a bit of nagamese, nepali, bengali, pnar. But trust me if you have a group of friends from different tribes you will easily inhabit to it. Being a city girl can be a little difficult, like getting used to different people, but in Shillong there’s no need to feel out of place because ever since childhood we are taught to socialize and be nice to New people, So there’s nothing to be uncomfortable, you can count on us if you’re facing any kind of trouble. But it doesn’t mean that everyone around the city are friendly it varies on an individual but the majority I assure you are friendly just like me (Jokes ). We love having new people in our surrounding, main reason is that we get to know about their well-being, their life-style and culture. Most importantly how they find Our City “Shillong”. We love when people appreciate our city, it makes us feel proud and to all my dear readers out there, you will encounter different people in Shillong especially while visiting different places, but don’t come to a conclusion that they are mean or are rude towards You, it’s just their tone and their way of talking that sounds kind of rude. So no September 2016

Shillong is a happening city. Must be wondering why right. First things firstShillongites are music lovers, we love singing and dancing, so around the city you will find different café shops keeping karaoke nights and various competition. We also have different fest like the monolith and soon to be held on the month of October ‘The Weekender’. You might as well think that we love only Pop, Rock, Hip-Hop music but you got the wrong idea- from folk to classical, jazz, alternative rock we enjoy all kinds of music. We love as well to celebrate the special Days Such As World Music Day, World Photography Day, Friendship day etc. Etc. Second fun part is that we love watching the movies and especially when new movies hit the theatre be it Bollywood or Hollywood we enjoy them with the same vibe. Lastly, Fashion is another important thing for every Shillongite, we love to dress well, look good, we very much love to wear trendy things like fashionable clothes, jewellery and match the colour of the outfit with our shoes specifically. Fashion Society has been developing lately, various fashion shows, modelling event are being held to boost the confidence of our young teens. Shillong in simple words where most of the Khasis reside still hold our culture and traditions. We love showing our care and affection towards our elderly people especially our grandmother’s and grandfather’s (as we say in Khasi ‘Meiied’ ne ‘Paieid’). We have to follow certain rules and regulations laid by them in the family, for they know what’s best. Having grandparents is one of the best things anyone can ask September 2016

for because they understand, know better than us and will always support their grandchildren whenever parents think they are wrong. They add joy to life and are a blessing to each one of us. They motivate and encourage you each and every day and remind you of your worth. Parents on the other hand are my pillar of strength because they are the ones who have always been there for me and moulded me, taught me good habits that have made me this good human being. They are my everything and I owe this life they have given me to them. Words fail to describe any “Parents” because they are the reason behind every child’s upbringing and success. Last and main reason why life in Shillong is worth livingWe all need friends in our life and if you happen to have completed your schooling from Shillong you will surely have those best friends you really need. I don’t know how it is outside of Shillong or Meghalaya but for me through personal experience, Shillong has given me not just regular friends but those true real friends you know that you can count on for life. I am truly blessed to have such friends around me because they make life worth living and being given this life to create many memories together. So, those were some few facts about my city and I hope you enjoyed reading this short article. Those were all through personal experience but I hope you find the same things when you happen to visit “My City Shillong” “LONG LIVE SHILLONG AND LONG LIVE THE PEOPLE OF SHILLONG”. 25

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Human Sacrifice

A Family Affair

ne of the oldest temples in India, Nartiang west jaintia hills district where human sacrifice was practiced but it was stopped by the British, nowadays other animals like goats and ducks are sacrificed.

hangkharang Park located at a distance of about 12 Km from Sohra (Cherrapunjee) is a perfect getaway for a family outing. For children it is a paradise giving them ample of space to run around and at the same time parents can enjoy the scenic view in the midst of nature.

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EXPLORER >> M A G A Z I N E

The Pilgrimage Cave of

MAWJYMBUIN

xplorer Traveller Olaf hogenkamp a graphic designer by profession from Netherland in Behdienkhlam festival jowai on The Himalayan Royal Enfield bike.

On his quest for adventure he has travelled to other parts of our country right from Mumbai to Kanyakumari, Kolkata and Pondicherry but his best experience was in Shillong.

awjymbuin Cave located at a distance of around 56 km from Shillong is very famous for its huge stalagmite which is in the shape of Shiva Linga on which drops of water falls steadily from a stone above. This attracts lots of Hindu devotees from different parts of the country and many trek all the way from Shillong to Mawjymbuin cave during the month of July to August (Shravana month, the most auspicious month for the Hinduâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s) generally they leave from Shillong on Saturday and reach the cave the next day on Sunday, after they reach they perform all the rituals for the Puja and offer water or Milk to the Shivling. This natural stalagmite in the shape of Shivlinga along with the big open entrance into the cave is the one that made Mawjymbuin to be very famous in Shillong tourism, thus attracting more and more tourists every year. 28

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Heaven

Stairway to

um Sohpetbneng is located on the right hand side of the Umiam lake on the way down to Guwahati. A beautiful gate has just been constructed recently at the main entrance and there is a motorable road which leads all the way to the top of the peak in which half of it is still dirt road. The road leading towards the top is uphill and I would recommend that you trek all the way up so as to enjoy the fresh air, the smell of pine, the sight of some beautiful flowers, the sound of the insects and birds chirping away. The trek is quite challenging enough which can tire you 30

down but the fantastic view it offers of the Umiam lake as you are making your way to the top will make you forget about all the pain. On reaching the top, you will find the altar where all the rituals and sacrifices is done and a newly constructed place in the shape of a traditional khasi hut which could be some sort of a resting place for the elders. From the top you also get a view of the other side, the newly constructed Shillong by pass, Indian Council For Agricultural Research campus, the Umroi Airport and Bhoirymbong. September 2016

There is an ancient belief among the khasis with Lum Sohpetbneng of having a legendary link with God and Heaven. The peak is traditionally believed to have been the base of an ancient golden ladder which used to linked Earth with Heaven. God being the creator in the beginning created sixteen families. They were allowed to move freely between heaven and earth by means of a golden ladder which touched the top of a mountain peak named Sohpetbneng, literally meaning, the navel of heaven. They could conversed directly with God, the Creator. This was the September 2016

golden age, when the people lived happily. Later, nine out of the sixteen families chose to live in heaven and they were known as the Khyndai hajrong or the nine above. The seven families known as the Hynniew Trep Hynniew Skum decided to live here on earth and the ladder was severed.Thus the Khasi trace their origin to these seven families and are known as the Hynniew Trep or the Seven Huts. The seven families on earth multiplied in time and spread far and wide to inhabit Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s creation. This legendary origin is accepted by all the Khasi. 31

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FOLKTALE OF

TUNG RYMBAI & THE DOG AT LURI LURA I by Anthony Lyngdoh

n the olden days, according to a prevalent khasi folktale, different kinds of animals used to go to the marketplace to buy and sell goods as people did. There was a big weekly market named â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iew Luri Luraâ&#x20AC;?.The tiger was the elder or head of the market. A day before the market day, people and animals prepared things and necessities to be taken to the market. Some of them like conical baskets, rain shield, baskets, rice, betel leaves, betel nuts, fruits, bananas, rice cakes and other necessities to be sold in the market. It was said that the dog was very lazy, he never used to go to the market as he had nothing to sell or to buy. One day, the dog decided to go and visit the market place. He could not go empty handed as other animals would tease and laugh at him. One day before the market day, the dog wandered throughout the villages, to get something to sell in the market. He walked the whole day and became very tired and hungry as he had nothing to eat. In the evening he reached a village named Sadew. He stopped there for a while, contemplating from where he could get food to eat. At that point of time, he got the smell of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tung 32

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Rymbai” a kind of fermented soya bean prepared nearby. The dog ran to the village and searched for the hut where the smell came from. He entered inside and found out that some people were having their food. When the inmates saw the dog, they called him to come and have the leftover in the pot. Being very hungry the dog started eating at once and found that it was very tasty. So he thought that he could sell this stuff in the market. He bought some “tung rymbai” from them and proceeded to “IEW LURI LURA” to sell it, hoping that all the animals would buy and praise his item. He went and sat in the corner with a pot of “tung rymbai” in front of him. After sometime, some animals came to enquire the stuff that he was selling. He replied that he was selling “tung rymbai” and when he opened the lid, bad smell came out from the pot. The animals covered their noses and ridiculed him for selling dirt. The dog explained to them that it was a very nice food but they accused him of cheating. They kicked the pot and destroyed the “tung rymbai” and then left him in despair. The dog felt very sad, his efforts to convince them went in vain. He went to the elder of the market, he too did not listen and accused him of selling dirt. The dog started barking and threatened to take revenge to all the animals. He then went back to the hut of the people from whom he bought the “tung rymbai”. He narrated everything to them. He begged them to allow him to stay in their hut and give him some amount of food. He promised that he would take care of them and their belongings. The people sympathised with him, they patted and massaged his body, and allowed him to live with them, and in turn 34

they would feed and protect him from other animals. Since then, the dog stayed with man and became a faithful friend. He protected the owners and followed them whenever they ventured outside for works or other purposes. The people realised that the dog had a special sense where he could trace other animals, since they have trampled and destroyed his “tung rymbai” by their feet. Apart from the tale of “The Dog and Tung Rymbai” it has many other beautiful stories yet to be told and the sheer joy and experience of reaching the destination “Luri Lura” will give you a memory that you will embrace for your whole life.

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Getting there is Half the Fun

awsynram a Village located at a distance of about 65 Km from the main town of Shillong. It is also known as the wettest place on Earth and some of the main attraction for tourists are the number of caves, beautiful streams and waterfalls it has to offer, but the main Fun is reaching the destination itself, the Road trip

between the mountains and the clouds will take you into an imaginary world and the hanging clouds in between the mountains will give you a feeling of literally getting within touching distance and holding them with your bare hands. This is one journey which will give you travel goals and inspire you see more what the world has to offer

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Nohkalikai a tale of a Motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Love

ohkalikai Falls is the tallest falls in India plunging from a height of 1115 feet (340 meters) located at Sohra (Cherrapunjee). The name of the falls comes from a tragic story of a Mother named Likai who had a daughter from her first marriage whom she loved and cared a lot, but after the death of her first husband she had to remarry again. The second husband of Likai was not happy with the daughter, as Likai gave most of her time to her daughter instead of him, the jealous husband did

a gruesome act of killing the daughter when Likai was out for work and cooked a meal using the daughterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s flesh, after Likai came back from work she saw the evening meal was already cooked by her husband, as she was very tired and hungry because of her whole day labour she had the meal as soon as she reached home but soon she realized the barbaric act of her husband and out of grief, sorrow and anger she ran and jumped off a nearby cliff into the falls and since the falls is known as Nohkalikai, The jump of Likai (Noh-Ka- Likai).

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Where God resides

ymper rock is located near a place called Weiloi on the ShillongMawsynram-Ranikor road.It is a unique geological formation with an almost flat topped loaf-shaped rocky dome,which rises sharply at an altitude of 5700 feet from sea level in the midst of the surrounding hillocks.There is a motorable road to the rock from the main road where there is a diversion.From its base,one has to take an exciting uphill trek to reach its summit where one can get an expansive

view of the gorgeous surrounding hills and valleys,besides the plains and fast moving rivers of Bangladesh.The body of this rock is full of several holes and at the bottom there is an opening which is quite big where the goats and cows used to take shelter from rainfall.There is a story that a God by the name of “U Symper” resides in this place.The people of Mawsynram village used to perform rituals and sacrifices to the God in times of sickness and whenever something bad

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happens in the family.This is still prevalent till today.Once upon a time, two Gods by the name of “U Kyllang” and “U Symper” used to do battle against one another,the battle used to be very tough and intense and would go on for a very long time.In the meantime a giant by the name of Ramhah used to observe them fight from a distance. They fought by throwing mud at each other.The God “U Kyllang” threw with such brute strength and at such a speed that after sometime U Symper was blinded and his body was badly injured which made

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him run for his life.He ran towards this flat area where he currently exist and sits here quietly maintaining a very low profile. Ever since that time you will find several holes scattered all around the body of U Symper.Closeby near Symper rock in a village called Laitmawsiang lies a kind of a structure which is 14 inches thick and 13 feet in height.This structure they say used to be the walking stick of the giant Ramhah who happen to watch the fight between U Kyllang and U Symper from that spot.He must have forgotten it and left it there.

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THE UFO MYSTERY by Anthony Lyngdoh

awkdok a tiny village which is about 16 kms from Shillong on the way to Cherrapunjee is blessed with a picturesque landscape and a lovely gorge which is quite captivating in terms of natural beauty.Located near the side of the road on the right hand side if you are coming from Shillong just before reaching Duwan Singh Syiem bridge, is a place called ‘Cafe Cherrapunjee’ which host a small cafe cum restaurant along with some beautiful stone cottages and tents that have been setup to cater to the needs of the visitors who are thronging the place from time to time.This present ‘Cafe Cherrapunjee’ used to be an Inspection Bungalow for officials which offered as a resting place for them. It is said that a mysterious saucer shaped flying object had landed here next to the existing cafe on which there used to be a pond filled with water and on the side of it there used to be a row of pine trees. This was even reported in some newspaper clippings

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cuts. It was also reported that the air was very hot in the close vicinity of the object even after it had left. The strange phenomenon lasted about half an hour. As per bah Nongbriâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s description after its departure, the pond which was filled with water earlier had all dried up. Reports quoting eye-witnesses stated that the object sucked and churned the water with loud and deafening explosions. The row of trees on the side next to the pond all shortly died a week after according to bah Nongbri. After completion of the whole story, we thanked bah Nongbri and had tea together before leaving for our respective destinations

dating back to October 1967.According to our own findings, we were very fortunate enough to have met one of the person bah Francis Nongbri a resident of the village who actually witness this incident and from him we learned that there were three more other persons who were also present that particular day. One of them happen to be the chowkidar of the then Inspection Bungalow (L) Parad Purno,(L) John who happen to be his nephew and a person by the name of Dr Prak Nongrum who hails from a village called Swer. As per bah Nongbriâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s narration of his side of the story that particular day he left his house at around 7:30 am in the morning after having his breakfast to go to the field to collect potatoes. Near the Inspection Bungalow was the potato field and a tiny house where the chowkidar stayed. On 44

reaching the site bah Nongbri who was still a child back then notice this mysterious giant saucer hovering just above the pond not knowing which direction it came from, it landed exactly on the pond which was filled with water which made him so fearful that he fled and hid himself next to the bushes nearby not daring to take another look at it. On landing the giant saucer swept away everything in its place and according to bah Nongbri it remain stationary for around 15 minutes before it again took off, from the pond it spiralled up and flew towards the now existing Duwan Singh Syiem bridge and then towards the dense woods before finally vanishing from sight. Reports indicated that the mysterious object, in its passage through the forest, breeze-swept everything in its path, and some trees bore marks resembling saw September 2016

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MUSIC HEARTBEAT OF SHILLONG by Louisa T. Sangma

hillong is known for being a music hub of all ages, from Rock to Metal to Pop to Hip Hop, you name it. Majority of the youth are trendy and follow fashion which is usually influenced by music icon. Music is important to Shillong, and house parties and bonfire evenings usually involve impromptu jam sessions. There aren’t too many gigs in public spaces, but I recommend to visit Mellow Mood, Shillong Café, Dylan’s Café, Cloud 9 that host musical events, it’s not as if they get promoted but applause must be given to these café pubs for at least giving a platform for musician so their talent won’t be wasted

The Christian Faith by Anthony Lyngdoh

he Presbyterian Church located at Nongsawlia, Sohra was earlier known as the Calvinistic Methodist Church of Wales. They sent their first missionary to the Khasi Hills. Rev. Thomas Jones accompanied by his wife Anne Thomas, he arrived at Cherrapunjee on the 22nd of june 1841. Later a monument was erected to commemorate the Centenary of the Welsh

Mission on these hills by the Presbytery Sohra to gracefully remember the occasion on reaching a milestone of a hundred years of the Presbyterian church in khasi Jaintia hills and also to forever remember the first Christians among the Khasis U AMOR bad U RUJON who were baptized on the 8th of March 1846 and KA NABON who was also baptized on the 16th of July 1848.

Ella Suting is one of the young new independent artists who perform Indie, soul, jazz

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GOD’S OWN ABODE

ach and every Hima (domain) which is ruled by the khasi chiefs, has a sacred forest.The land is called as “Ka Mei Ramew” which means mother earth and is protected by a deity called U Ryngkew U Basa.It is this Mei Ramew which brings forth the vegetation and the life-giving plants for the human race.One such example of this is the sacred grove which is located at Mawphlang village.On reaching this grove just on the side of the main entrance to the forest where they have carefully laid down a path for people

by Anthony Lyngdoh

September 2016

to trek,you will come across a monolith structure where according to our guide the Kur Lyngdoh Mawphlang before entering the forest to conduct any ritual used to first stop here and offer prayers to the deity asking him for a sign.The deity used to come in two forms,one in the form of U Labasa which means leopard and the other in the form of a serpent.If it comes in the form of U Labasa (Leopard) that means it’s a good sign and they can enter the forest to complete the ritual but if it comes in the form of a serpent then they 49

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have to leave and come back another day. It is only the Kur Lyngdoh Mawphlang which can conduct any ritual in and around the sacred grove,no outsiders are allowed. To take part in such a ritual only non Christians are allowed to participate and they used to sacrifice a reddish brown bull to the deity.According to information from our guide till date there has been around five rituals which have been conducted inside the forest with the last ritual taking place way back in the year 1959.There have not been any ritual in recent years which is something of a good sign in that the forest is healthy and is in a good condition.It is only if the forest starts to deteriorate that a ritual is required to be performed to the deity.A walk through the forest will enchant you with a rich an abundance flora and fauna and adding to it a feeling of something divine and supreme inside the place.It is blessed with a variety of flowers,fruits,different types of orchids,mushrooms of different colours in all shapes and sizes,different types of herbs with some containing medicinal properties and trees with some of them which are as old as 400 years. Inside the forest you will also come across these five carefully arranged altars where rituals have been performed earlier. When entering this sacred place you must keep one thing in mind you should not destroy,harm,dirty,take anything from the forest and do anything which is disrespectful to the place to anger the deity for there is a curse which goes along with this place.Its only intention is to preserve it for all generations to come with the deity as its protector against all offenders. 50

September 2016

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HEAVEN ON EARTH by Sumit Ghosh

hnongpdeng village located in the banks of the river umngot in westjaintia hills district, Meghalaya can surely be considered as heaven on earth with its picture perfect view, turquoise colour crystal clear water and local people with their warm hospitality will steal your heart. The best time to visit this place is during October to March, as apart from the scenic beauty you can enjoy lots of other activities like Trekking Kayaking Boating Cliffjumping camping and lots more. You can also visit this village via (Tamabil) Dawki road (distance about 8 Km from Dawki).

September 2016

M A G A Z I N E

September 2016

M A G A Z I N E

JOURNEY WITHIN A

JOURNEY W

ahrashi a journey many take just to admire the beauty of five water falls but the most beautiful thing about Wahrashi is the journey itself, it will keep you engage with its scenic silent landscapes, the feel of smelling fresh air and if you luckily late enough you might even be blessed with

thousand of stars glittering like crystals in the sky on your way back home and it has to be mentioned that it is one of the most well maintained tourist spot in the state.

Located at syntung Village (Mawkynrew C&RD block) Distance of about 70Km from Shillong via Smith

September 2016

M A G A Z I N E

FOOD & MUSIC

Cleanliness has its own Reward W

elcome to Mawlynnong “God’s own garden” a village known for its cleanest village model around the world and it was also awarded the prestigious tag of the cleanest village in Asia in 2003. The best part about Mawlynnong is the Hospitality of the locals who welcome all the visitors with love and open heart, and these small gestures by the locals makes it one of the most loved destination amongst travelers. Apart from enjoying the feeling of being in the cleanest village, you can also see a balancing rock, a huge boulder resting on a small rock unaffected in ages by any cyclones, earthquakes or any other natural phenomenon, you can also see variety of colourful flowers, Unique Butterflies and Red Dragonfly, and if don’t get enough of Mawlynnong there is also home stay available to give you the experience of your lifetime. This village located at a distance of about 90 Km from main town has sustainable source of Income only through means of tourism and this teaches us all we can find alternative without destroying the environment and still have a steady source of income which will never runaway or hamper us in the long run.

September 2016

Match made in Heaven by Louisa T. Sangma

he connection between food and music has been explored from many angles and taken together, great food and great music is a delight beyond words. Mellow Moods is one such place with great food and live music performance with constant buzz of people making it one of the most talked about places amongst the youth in the town.

September 2016

M A G A Z I N E

UNDERGROUND ADVENTURE

World War II Memorabilia M

eghalaya has some of the longest caves in the world and many are being still discovered by Cave hunters, who come from all over the world to discover and explore the caves for both scientific and for finding adventure. Mawsmai Cave is one of the most visited places by tourist, this show cave is very 60

well ligted up to gives visitors a memorable experience where they can explore the caves and see variety of Stalagmites and stalactites it has to offer and one of the most important reason it attracts more travelers is because of its accessibility, whereas other caves are difficult for womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s to explore.

September 2016

uring WorldWar(II), a Fokker plane was crashed on 7th May 1944 somewhere near Borhill Falls and this memorabilia is still kept on display for public viewing inside St.Anthony's Higher Secondary School compound in Pynursula Block of East khasi hills District.

September 2016

M A G A Z I N E

Experience the Rich Heritage of North East under one Roof

INDIAN AIR FORCE

PRIDE AND HONOUR OF EVERY INDIAN

M A G A Z I N E

on Bosco Centre for Indigenous Culture is a must visit place, you can know about the rich cultural heritage of the North eastern people along with various other regional artwork, attires, accoutrements, handicrafts, ornamentation, photographs and weapons from the North East. One should not miss the 9 minutes video show and yes it also has a Beautiful Sky walk to give you a mesmerizing landscape view from the top of the Museum. The Museum was officially inaugurated by Mrs. Sonia Gandhi in 2010. The Seven storey of the DBCIC is also adding one more Museum gallery (which will be ready in another three-four months), this gallery will have paintings of all tribes, sub-tribes of North East India on display with various other information’s.

DON BOSCO MUSEUM Don Bosco Centre for Indigenous Cultures (DBCIC), Mawlai, Shillong - 793 008, Meghalaya, INDIA

nce you enter the IAF Museum, this will definitely give you a feeling of pride, patriotic and honour of being an Indian. The Museum gives you a glimpse of about the history of Indian Air Force with various Aircrafts, Artillery, Missiles, Weapons and uniforms of IAF, and it also gives you an insight of different cultures of Eastern India. 62

This Museum is located at the Eastern Air Command of IAF on the way to Elephant Falls, there is no entry fees taken to visit the museum but do carry a ID proof without which you can’t enter the premises and on your way back don’t forget to get a souvenir for your loved ones, that feeling is priceless “Jai Hind”. September 2016

MUSEUM TIMINGS Monday – Saturday, Summer: 9:00 am to 5:30 pm Winter (1 Dec to 31 Jan): 9:00 am to 4:30 pm SUNDAY: Closed MUSEUM HOLIDAYS The Museum remains open throughout the year EXCEPT Sundays, 1 January, 26 January, 31 January, 15 August, 2 November, second last Monday in November, 22 to 25 December (both days inclusive), 31 December and Thursday before Easter to Easter Monday (both days inclusive).

September 2016

M A G A Z I N E

THE MATRILINEAL SOCIETY M atrilineal societies are those in which succession and inheritance trace through the mother and women have a higher status in the society. It is practiced throughout Meghalaya by the Khasi, Jaintia and the Garo people. In the Khasi society, 1) It’s the Men who have to move to the bride’s house after wedding instead of the girl going to the men’s house. 2) The children take the last name of the mother. 3) A girl child is not considered as a burden. 4) Women have the freedom to choose their own life partner, except they can’t get married in the same clan. 5) Women mainly the youngest daughter of the family inherits the families property as a caretaker 6) It is the uncle (from the mother’s side), who takes care and acts as a guardian to the child. Yes it’s a women-centered society but the things we learn at a very young age from the culture and the people of this beautiful land, is equality and respecting women and in which we all take pride in as a Shillongites. 64

September 2016

RED FM 93.5 ABSOLUTE ENTERTAINMENT R

adio was the only source of news and entertainment until the introduction of television and everybody believed with the introduction of Television it will be the end of radio broadcasting, but with the introduction and evolution of Fm it is now a very big source of infotainment for all of us. The most important part of this evolution in the radio industry was played by the Radio Jockeys; they replaced the noisy traffic of our daily life, with their daily dose of entertainment with a mixture of Music and the immense talent they need to have to keep us engaged with their Shows even without seeing them. The team of Red Fm operating from Shillong really doesn’t have the advantage of Traffic on their side, as in even if we get

September 2016

stuck in traffic it is not for a long time unlike other big cities, but what they bring into the table is their great taste of Music, with their interesting topics and discussions, and last but not the least their Zest and passion to entertain their listeners day in and day out. 65

M A G A Z I N E

September 2016