The Sein Raij Jowai, through its arts and culture committee, concluded the Chad Sukra festival today.
Bearing in mind the severe and unusual heatwave felt in many parts of Meghalaya recently, the annual sowing festival, which was only revived by the Sein Raij in 2006, this year had a strong environmental message.
OR Shallam, president of the Sein Raij Jowai, said that the environment would benefit greatly even if every family in Jowai, Jaintia Hills and Meghalaya, and not just members of the Sein Raij, planted one tree a year.
Meanwhile, the chief guest, cabinet minister Comingone Ymbon, said, “Burning of forests is not acceptable as it destroys all kinds of plants that grow in the wild. It’s a bad practice and I request you all please don’t burn the bushes in the wild.”
He also spoke on the impact of global warming, saying, “We have never faced the problem of a heatwave in the state before but this time the government has had to issue guidelines to schools due to the heatwave and this is due to global warming.”
Temperatures had cooled over the past two days and today saw rain on the last day of the festival, though it did not dampen the spirits of the indigenous Niamtre faithful.
The celebrations concluded in the evening with various kinds of entertainment, including dances and skits.
