Behdeinkhlam is the traditional and greatest festival of the people of Elaka Jowai under the embrace of the Niamtre. Like all festivals the world over, Behdeinkhlam too is a celebration of the triumph of the eternal human spirit over all evils, physical and social. Since the emergence of human beings on earth, all human endeavour has been directed toward the attainment of bliss and the annual festival of Behdeinkhlam signifies just that the ever striving human spirit in its eternal quest for peace.
Behdeinkhlam is naturally a word one is inclined to understand its real meaning. However, as one told me by a section of Niamtre elders, Behdeinkhlam is to drive away famine and evil things. From amongst the people or to drive away plague from the land a visible mark can be the beating of roofs on the last morning of the programmes by religious officials. Although Behdeinkhlam seems to be a festival of ending the ploughing and sowing season of the people in and around Jowai, at Chyrmang village, Behdeinkhlam is held before sowing season. It is also said that at Chyrmang, according to their beloved and religious teaching handed down from their ancestors, people are forbidden and not allowed to sow any seedling before Behdeinkhlam.
In Jowai, the origin of Behdeinkhlam can be summarised from the legend of four big stones namely u Mookhai, U Mooralong, U Mootong and U Moosniang. Legends tell us that long ago when the village of Jowai was not yet occupied by humans, the four powerful brother spirits in the form of big stones that u Mookhai, U Mooralong, U Mootong and u Moosniang and their ambition that mean the greatest and the most living creature of God would come and settle in their land (land of four big stones).
According to legends, one dark stormy night these four brother spirits dwelt with a hope that early in the morning they would again resume their journey toward the west. The four brothers’ spirits on seeing these humans come to their land were filled with great joy and began to dance. After the horrible sound made by these humans with cold sweat, they started to run away. But on seeing this, one of the four brother spirits called after them saying “Oh children of God please do not run away, stay with us. We assured you that no harm will come. Stay here, you will live happily and prosperously in this land and we will guard you from any evils by watching you from the north, east, south and west and our maid servant ka Myntdu River will hear this assurance”. They (humans) agreed not to resume their journey ahead but settle down.
The descendants of these people lived peacefully and prosperously as well, blessed by the four brother spirits and Myntdu River. However, suddenly a famine broke out in their lands along with diseases which claimed many lives. As these four spirits are their protectors, they consulted with them. The humans were advised to perform a festival annually at the end of ploughing and sowing season. Thus began Behdeinkhlam here in Jowai as was once told me by ma Koren Lyngdoh.
Behdeinkhlam has its physical and spiritual aspects. Behdeinkhlam is in reality, a collective attempt at purging the society of diseases and social evils. All the members of the community are reminded of their individual responsibilities toward maintaining hygiene and preserving the traditional values. An essential part of the festival is cleaning the households and the surroundings with the aim of destroying the breeding place for dreadful diseases like the plague. The people also activated toward ensuring that famines do not occur and see that the growth of all social evils are checked.
In spiritual aspect, the advent of Behdeinkhlam is with the onset of March before the season of sowing every year and before harvesting in July with the onset of the first monsoon showers. From the beginning itself, Behdeinkhlam is marked with offering of prayers to God along with various rituals and sacrifices including Kñia Khang, Kñia Pyrthat, Kñia Aitnar, Kñia Ryngkaw etc. As stated before, the festival has two aspects to it: religious and social. The former involves invoking the blessing of the Almighty through traditional rites performed under the leadership of the Priest “U Langdoh’’ while the latter signifies sheer joy expressed through dance and music.
The festival culminates in the collective expression of triumph over evil during which people take to the streets performing the traditional arts of dancing and singing accompanied by the time tested folk musical instruments of “Bahuri”( Tangmuri), flutes and drums. During this time, every household in Jowai belonging to the Niamtre is filled with joy with the homecoming of those members who had been out in pursuit of various feats. Every family offers collective prayers to the Almighty and to the Goddess Ka Syiem Wabooh Wathoo seeking blessing for the society as a whole. Homage is paid to the departed souls of the clan and special offerings are made seeking their blessing.
In preparing the celebration, men, women and even children do not waste their time. Any sign of idleness is for them a denial of the festival. So they are all working cheerfully with the spirit of Behdeinkhlam. Significantly, rain is considered auspicious and essential during the culmination of the festival and everyone rejoices in the first virgin shower of the monsoon by drenching themselves outside playing and dancing. Elaborate and beautifully made Rots which are decorated with intricacy are taken out in procession through the streets accompanied with music and much fanfare to be finally immersed at Pung Aitnar at Shiliang Raij marking the end of festivals.
The joy, the enthusiasm, the dance, music and the spirit during the immersion to the Rots mark the successful end of the festival. People play Datlawakor and embrace each other irrespective of social positions. The people renew the spirit of friendship and brotherhood during the festival of Behdeinkhlam by visiting and dancing from house to house as a mark of unity among themselves. The festive spirit of Behdeinkhlam is replete with the universal message of love and eternal human spirit which knows no bounds. The annual Behdeinkhlam which culminates with the onset of the monsoon signifies the shower of blessings and abundance bestowed by nature upon the entire mankind and renews the spirit of good prevailing over evil.
(The writer is the Editor of ‘U Yutip’ newspaper. He resides in Jowai)
