The Society for Urban and Rural Empowerment (SURE), which observes all religious festivals, chose to celebrate Tuber Behdeiñkhlam this year instead of that of Raid Jowai. The celebration was held today at the Halfway Home project run by SURE. The day also coincides with the first day of the four days and three nights Behdeiñkhlam festival of Tuber.
Speaking at the celebration, Telme Phawa, Waheh Chnong of Sabah Muswang village, said that there are many sacrifices that the Raid offer as part of the Behdeiñkhlam and “kñia khang,” which is connected with agricultural practice is one of them. Part of this sacrifice is offered to honor the tools used while farming the land.
He also said that on the second day of the festival, the celebration starts with the ritual called “ku tyngkong ha ïung u Langdoh Raid,” then at the house of the Langdoh Langdih wah, Lahdoh neiñ, and at the residence of the “Dhulia.” One of the important parts of the festival is the sacrifice called “kñia khlam,” which is offered to rid the community of plague and pestilence. The Langdoh also observes another ritual, which is part of the ceremony of celebrating Behdeiñkhlam, called ‘pynkhreh pyrnah pyrjiñ.”
The penultimate day of the festival started with the Langdoh offering another important sacrifice called “kñiaw choh thyndai” or sacrifice before the faithful start the ceremony to beat the rooftop of the community’s house to rid it of evil spirits.
Ngeitlang Kyndait, Secretary of the Sein Raij Chnong Sabah Muswang, said that the festival culminates at the Biar, or the place where followers of Niamtre from all over East and West Jaiñtia hills bring their Rongs or Roths to offer as part of the Behdeiñkhlam festival. Every year, between 60 to 70 rongs are brought by Niamtre followers from all over, and they come in all shapes and sizes. Kyndait also said the “noh rong” or the dumping of the rong is not the end of the festival. There are two traditional practices only by the followers of Niamtre Tuber: the “tan bhang,” which is like a tug of war, but instead of a rope, they use two big tree branches with L-shaped ends.
The branches are tugged against each other, with people pulling in opposite directions. The belief is that if the upper team wins, the rice yield will be better in the upper valley, but if the lower team wins, the lower valleys will give a better yield. The last part of the Behdeiñkhlam festival in Tuber is “ka ïasleit niam” or a game of wrestling. The wrestling must be between those who belong to the Rymbai Bahkhla clan and the other clans under Raid Tuber.
Dr. H.H. Mohrmen, in his speech, also said that people do not know much about the biggest Behdeiñkhlam festival in the state. He was glad that SURE could organize this program to celebrate the Tuber Behdeiñkhlam with the members of the community. Others who spoke on the occasion were Niwanka Shylla, Project Coordinator of Halfway Home, and Thesolonica Myrchiang, Staff Nurse of the Home, Prayer was offered by C. Langdoh member of the Sein Raij Sabah Muswang. The program ended with the cutting of the Behdeiñkhlam cake by the Waheh Chnong and the other members present.
