The Sein Raij today announced its plan to enable a safe and successful Behdeinkhlam 2021 to be held this year.
The annual festival of the Pnar people was able to be held last year despite the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, but the restrictions imposed by the government were such that the Sein Raij felt that there was a void in the hearts of the faithful as many aspects of the religious event had to be foregone.
This year, the organisation has drafted its own SOPs, which it hopes will be accepted by the government, so that a more meaningful Behdeinkhlam (which is a festival to drive away the plague) can be held in Jowai.
Chief among the SOPs is that only people who have received the Covid-19 vaccine shall be eligible to take part in the rituals. Even those who are vaccinated can be excluded if they display symptoms of coronavirus infections, however.
The festival is set to commence on July 8 and conclude on July 11.
“We wish that the Behdeiñkhlam festival 2021 is celebrated to its fullest and significance by performing all aspects of religious importance. But, nevertheless, we will not overlook the safety measures and Covid-19 protocols,” OR Shallam, president of the Sein Raij, Jowai said today.
He said the SOPs have been prepared after taking into consideration the importance of the Behdeinkhlam festival to the indigenous faith and the safety measures in performing the festival during the pandemic.
Crowds of onlookers will not be encouraged this year as well, while no one above 60 years old or under 12 will be allowed to take part in the rituals.
The Sein Raij proposed that in all the religious events participated in by locality groups at Ïawmusiang will be limited to 40 persons only at one event. The Deinkhlam will be carried by a maximum of 20 people. There will also be a limit to the number of people escorting the Deinkhlam, such as drummers, etc, of 10. The Rong and Rots should be constructed of a size that a maximum of 10 people can carry them.
