The three-day Monolith Festival hosted by the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) in collaboration with the State government came to a close today.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma along with Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh and Chief Executive Member of the Autonomous District Council, Pyniaid Sing Syiem attended the concluding day.
The Chief Minister was focused on two young boys who are chana (gram) sellers at the festival. He said, “It is encouraging to see that there is a convergence of multiple exchanges where like these two boys, I am proud to see them earning their livelihood. This convergence brings out the unique aspects of the Khasi culture in various forms whether it is in the form of music, textiles, cuisine, dance and many other unique cultural aspects.”
He said that the Mawphlang Heritage village should not just hold the Monolith Festival and urged stakeholders involved to hold daily markets to showcase food, local indigenous vegetables and fruits, textiles and the unique and rich culture and heritage.
The Chief Minister also lauded the district councils in their new journey as they delve into the field of research with the Rs 50 lakh fund earmarked by the government.
In relation to the research funding, Sangma further said, “This fund will increase annually so that the district councils can start their research in various formats in written, video and many other means to document the unique cultural aspects of the different tribes in the state of Meghalaya.”
He further announced the rolling out of the CM’s Research Scholarship Program, spearheaded by Lyngdoh. He said that the government will support close to 50 researchers up to Rs. 3 lakh per researcher/scholar annually to conduct research on the culture and other historical aspects of the State. The selection process will go through a formed committee for screening of deserving candidates.
Tourism Minister in his speech said, “It is in events like the Monolith Festival that brings not just the Khasi community together but also converges, unites and highlights the unique identity of the Khasi people along with the rest of the world. I congratulate the efforts taken to make this festival happen and would like to support the vision of the KHADC to promote the Khasi Culture for it is land, language and lineage which are the three cornerstones of our community of which we can pass it down strong and proud to our descendants.”
KHADC CEM thanked everyone for their contributions in making the festival a huge success. He further mentioned that the KHADC is the custodian that protects the identity of the tribal people in any state and this event is a celebration to showcase to the rest of the world the united and unique identity of the Khasi People.
He also thanked the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council for providing land in Diphu for construction of a guest house of the KHADC and urged the state government to support this initiative.
