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India.com
4 days ago
- India.com
India's Most Surreal Places Where Nature Breaks Its Own Rules — From Reverse Waterfalls To Ghost Lights
1 / 8 The living root bridges are one of Meghalaya's most beautiful tangible heritage sites. They are made of intertwined roots. "These bridges have been built for centuries by the indigenous people of the land(Khasis and the Jaintias). They have also been used by these people to cross the overflowing rivers during the monsoon season," the Meghalaya Tourism site mentioned. A root bridge could be able to live on for hundreds of years. These bridges frequently rise 50 to 100 feet in the air. Meghalaya's longest living root bridge is said to be a whopping 175 feet in length.
Time of India
14-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Behdienkhlam fest: 4-day celebration of joy & religious fervour in Jowai
Shillong: The colourful and vibrant festival of Behdienkhlam, celebrated by the Pnar (Jaintia) community, culminated in Jowai on Monday amid joy and religious fervour. It is the most important indigenous religious festival of the Jaintias and is celebrated mid-July every year after the sowing is over. 'Khlam' means 'plague or pestilence' and 'beh dien' means to drive away with sticks. The four-day celebration, which culminated on Monday, saw thousands of followers of the indigenous Niamtre faith converge at Wah Aitnar (a muddy pool), dancing to the tunes of the traditional pipes and drums, while 'Khnong', a wooden post and 'rots', tall-decorated structures of various shapes and sizes, which are the main attractions of the festival, were carried amid chants and cheers. "During the three-day rites, Dolois (village chieftains) perform a number of religious rites to chase away the evil spirits such as plague, epidemic, etc. Young men, in a symbolic gesture of driving away the evil spirits, beat the roofs of every house with bamboo poles," a resident of Jowai said. The youth of each locality display their artistic skills by erecting coloured 'rots' — 30 to 40ft tall structures built of bamboo, coloured paper and tinsel. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cách giao dịch ETH/USD mà không cần nắm giữ Ether IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo Competition flares as each group tries to outdo the other in making the tallest and most artistic 'rot', which displays relevant social issues. The climax of the celebrations is the tussle, as seen in a tug of war, for the 'Khnong' by two groups of people opposed to each other. The trunk along with the colourful 'rots' is then immersed in the muddy waters of the Aitnar pool. Meghalaya governor CH Vijayashankar and chief minister Conrad K Sangma greeted the people of the state, particularly the Jaintia Community, on the occasion of Behdienkhlam.
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Acquire land for common burial: HC to Meghalaya
Guwahati: The High Court of Meghalaya has directed the state govt to take immediate steps to acquire the required land for common burial purposes, either by acquisition or private treaty. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The court of chief justice IP Mukerji and justice W Diengdoh was hearing a petition filed by 'Re-Seng Khasi Hima Crematorium,' raising the issue of a dearth of crematoria and the lack of willingness of the Khasis and the Jaintias to share a particular crematorium. Initially, the scope of the PIL was confined to facilitating the cremation of persons belonging to Khasi and Jaintia communities on one hand and those embracing the Hindu religion on the other throughout the state. The court, in its order on Monday, stated it carefully examined the detailed report filed by Additional Advocate General K Khan and the report filed by Amicus Curiae N Syngkon. The court also noted that the result of the meetings between the Amicus Curiae and the public authorities appears to be that some Christian denominations, through churches and other religious orders, own private cemeteries. "Those denominations having private cemeteries are reluctant to share their cemeteries with other denominations. They have no objection to sharing cemeteries which are acquired by the govt or public authority and designated for common burial for all communities irrespective of faith," the court said. Stating that the common burial grounds are very few in number compared to the number of dead and the demand for space for their interment, the court said the villages have community land belonging to the village people in common, and a part of it may be gifted for common burial purposes. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "However, substantial land is required across the districts for the above common burial purpose, if any progress is to be made towards solving this problem. These lands need to be acquired by the govt through the land acquisition machinery or through private sale or treaty," the court stated. The court further directed the Amicus Curiae to move the chief secretary of the state to form a committee led by the chief secretary as the chairperson to hold meetings between all stakeholders, including representatives of the district councils, representatives of churches or religious orders, administrative officers, state legal counsel and local functionaries for the purpose of acquisition of land for common burial.
