Joining hands with the rest of the country to commemorate the ensuing “Janajatiya Gaurav Diwas” or Tribal Pride Week, which will be launched on Monday to recognize the valiant efforts of tribal freedom fighters, a special programme was held at Kongthong over the weekend to recognize the unique cultural practices of the village.
The programme was anchored by the Department of Arts and Culture in collaboration with the village authorities and other stakeholders who actively joined hands to commemorate “Janajatiya Gaurav Diwas” in a befitting and meaningful manner. To recognize the unique cultural practice of “Jingrwai Iawbei” or the musical calling of children by their mothers in Kongthong, which has also earned the village the distinction of being India’s nominee as “Best Tourism Village”, the various departments and stakeholders are collaborating by organizing several activities at the village to highlight and recognize its unique cultural practices, which has earned it several accolades within and without the state.
Amongst the plethora of activities and in recognition of the unique cultural space it occupies, the village was awarded two special artistic plaques by the Arts and Culture and Tourism Departments, which were handed over to the village authorities and to the custodians of Kongthong’s unique cultural practices.
The National Institute of Fashion Technology prepared 75 flags and distributed them to the performers as part of the Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav to celebrate India’s 75 years of independence. Fifty flags were also handed out to mark Meghalaya’s upcoming golden jubilee.
The Central Reserve Police Force also arranged for 75 saplings, which were symbolically planted all over the village as part of India@75. Martin Luther Christian University, meanwhile, anchored a lively and participative workshop on sustainable tourism, sustainable livelihoods and intangible heritage. Other key highlights also included ensemble performances and cultural demonstrations of Jingrwai Iawbei by the Indigenous Agro Tourism Cooperative Society of Kongthong.
FR Kharkongor, Commissioner and Secretary of Arts and Culture lauded Kongthong for its unique cultural practices and the acclaim it has earned through cultural tourism. He also informed that the department has already produced a specially composed freedom song composed in the folk-fusion style extolling and celebrating the three bravehearts of Meghalaya – U Tirot Sing Syiem, U Kiang Nangbah and Pa Togan Sangma, representing Khasi, Jaintia and Garo tribes along with other unsung heroes. He also informed that, as part of the “Janajatiya Gaurav Diwas”, and in active collaboration with the ICCR, the department is at an advanced stage of preparation of a special docuseries – “Revisiting The Warrior Heroes of Meghalaya”, an audio-video docudrama based on the three warrior heroes of Meghalaya which will revisit the heroic lives and their brave exploits against the colonial powers which will be showcased on social media, audio-video and all platforms with a view to honour, celebrate, ignite and inspire the present generation about the exploits of our tribal bravehearts.
