A two-day festival, “Manik Raitong: Festival of Legacy and Kinship”, was held on November 3-4, organised by the Mass Media Department of St Anthony’s College here.
This event was an initiative of the fifth semester students and aimed to re-ignite the rich traditions, to celebrate the legacy that this region has inherited and to invoke a sense of belonging among the populace of Shillong.
The story of Manik Raitong is a famous one in Ri-Bhoi and the Khasi Hills, revolving around a talented musician and orphan who falls in love with the wife of a Syiem.
The second day of the event featured panellists Shobhan Lamare, History department, Esther Syiem, English Department (NEHU), and Etawanda Saiborne, Mass media department. An insightful panel discussion took place after this which was moderated by student Naki Laloo. The discourse revolved around the legendary aspect of Manik Raitong, the interpretation of the story and his lineage.
A stunning theatre performance by the students took over the latter half of the event. The play was an adaptation of the Manik Raitong movie.
Drawing inspiration from the legendary figure of Manik Raitong, an art exhibition was also organised. Artworks of various genres such as digital art, modern art, abstract art and many more were exhibited.
