BEHDEINKHLAM A RELIGIOUS FESTIVAL OF PNAR PEOPLE

Introduction: - Behdeinkhlam is a religious festival celebrated annually by the Indigenous Pnar people of Jaintia Hills and it is a festival of “Ka Raij [Panchayat]” performed by its people in conformity to wishes of “U Tre Kirot[Almighty God]” for the general well-being of “Ki Khon Ka Raij Ka Shnong[Inhabitant]”. The Behdeinkhlam festival requires observance of series of rites and rituals mostly executed by the Traditional Head under the supervision of “U Doloi, U Langdoh, Ka Langdoh, U Pator, Ki Sangot wa ki Wasan Waheh of Ka Raij” which are known as “Ka Niam Raij” nevertheless, also there are certain rites and rituals incorporate with Behdeinkhlam Festival perform by every household under the consent of “U Kni(Uncle) and Ka Kchu(Motherhood)” which is known as “Ka Niam Iong Iung”. The origin of Behdeinkhlam may be traced back to the time when Ka Bon, Ka Tein, Ka Wet and Doh (the incarnate ancestors of Ka Kur Soo Kpoh) first settled down at a place called “Loom-soo-iung”. According to the legend, the first Behdeinkhlam was celebrated when U Dongsynriang was a Doloi and U Het Langdoh was a Langdoh of Jowai. Thus “Behdeinkhlam” means driving away of plague, devils and all kinds of evil spirits with prayer to the Almighty God for showering peace, security of life blessed with rich harvest and prosperity in business and other profession.

However, all these rites and rituals cannot be performed without a prior pronouncement of “Ka Dih-soo-pen”, which play a very important role in order to maintain the sacredness and sanctity of each ritual as “Ka Dih-soo-pen”, forbid the concern priest(s) engages in all religious activities to observe “Ka Iaid Thiah (an act of abstaining from any bodily contact with one’s spouse)”. Religious obligations also forbid them to attend any religious ceremony relates with birth or death of any family in the Raij until the completion of that particular ritual.

Ka Kbai Mooknor: This is the first custom in preparation of the Behdeinkhlam Festival. The Doloi and his subordinate standing on a particular sacred place “Ka mooknor Blai Iaw”, at Iawmusiang (Place at Market) made a public pronouncement about the beginning of the rites and rituals in preparation of the upcoming Behdeinkhlam Festival on the “Sngi musiang (Main Market day)”.

Ka Thoh Langdoh : On the fourth day from Ka Kbai Muknor, U Langdoh(a Priest) performed “Ka Thoh Langdoh” on the “Sngi Hat” at a sacred place called “Ka Blai Langdoh (Langdoh Sacred Grove)”. Thoh Langdoh is a ritual covered with offering of prayers prior to the sowing of seeds by U Langdoh in his garden symbolizing the beginning of a new season. Unless Ka Thoh Langdoh is completed, no one in “the Raij” can take up sowing of any agricultural plants. After Ka Thoh Langdoh and the farmer finished their sowing, the “Chad Sukra Festival” is being observed and followed by “ka Bamphalar(Communion feast)” performed by different localities .

“Chad Sukra Festival” is also one of the magnificent cultural festivals of Pnar people celebrated in the month of April every year en route along with Behdeinkhlam Festival.

Ka Chat Thoh: On the onset of u ’Naitung (April), “Chat Thoh” is being held on “Ka sngi Mulong (a day before main market day) at a place called “Ka Um-Chat-Thoh”. The purpose of this ritual is to consecrate one’s soul and during the ritual, “Ki Wasan (subordinate Priests)” went to this sacred place to clean their clothes and other materials require in various religious rites and rituals in preparation of Behdeinkhlam Festival, besides, a cleaning drive held at “Iung Langdoh (A Priestess’s house)”. Ka Chat Thoh is a ritual symbolizing the important of cleansing one’s soul.

Though, all the religious rites and ritual in preparation of Behdeinkhlam festival are in order of the day since the month of March till its culmination day on the 2nd week of the month of July, but on the ’nai san(May) no rituals are being performed during this month because customarily all “Ki Wasan(Subordinate of the Priest) are engaged and busy in catering the needs of “Ka Langdoh(Priestess)” such as fencing of “Ka Iung Langdoh(a Priestess’s House), fetching of firewood besides other works.

Ka Knia Khang: It is a series of rites, rituals and offering of prayer are being performed in four different places viz. at Mookhai, Mooralong, Musniang and at Mootong in a place called Iang-nong during the ’nai ynru(June) in a “Sngi Mushai(a day after main market day)”. These four important places are believed to be the protectors of Jowai town. Further, a day before the commencement of “Ka Knia Khang”, there is one of custom called “Ka khrong ka tri” is being performed on a “sngi musiang (main market day)”.

Ka Knia Pyrthat: It is one of the most important religious rituals performed a week before the main days of Behdeinkhlam Festival. It is a biggest offering in the honour of the mother earth, rain, thunder to protect from any turbulent or calamities.

Kñia Pyrthat begins early in the morning starts with the observation of “Ka Chet Tpu Ka Peit Tpu” by U Doloi, U Langdoh, Ka Langdoh and others. In this ritual, it is a customary practice that “Ki Le Langdoh (the priest of three different raij)” i.e “U Langdoh Chyrmang (Priest of Raij Chyrmang)”, “U Langdoh Ialong (Priest of Raij Ialong)” & “U Langdoh Tuber (Priest of Raij Tuber)” who are under the jurisdiction of U Doloi Elaka Jowai, takes part in this ritual.

At the end of “Ka Knia Pyrthat”, U Doloi ka Elaka, Jowai (Chieftain of Elaka Jowai) and U Kongwasan, Langdoh Chyrmang offer a communion in prayer called “Ka Iutang Knia Pyrthat”.

After “Ka Knia Pyrthat” everyone busily engaged in preparations of Behdeinkhlam Festival in the entire week. ‘U Doloi’ and ‘Ki Wasan’ are seen supervising clearing and cleaning works in different area at Iawmusiang (Market Place) which is also one of the main arena where the festival takes place.

Ki Kmai Raij or Ki Dong (Localities) starts constructing their Rots - a structure replica of tableau like, showcasing the skill of Art and creativity with full of human development massages and simultaneously others locating for an appropriate tree to be solemnized as their Deinkhlam whereas Ka Khon Raij or Ki Chilliangraij (one of the locality) searched for their “Khnong Blai” and “Ka Symbood Khnong”. By ka “Sngi Khyllaw(a week day i.e three days before main market day) ” everything is on set for a colourful festival. On the next day, early in the morning, U Doloi, U Langdoh, Ka Langdoh and Ki Wasan after “Ka dih-so-pen” would go for an inspection to all the religious places where the Behdeinkhlam will takes place. As stated earlier, in order to make Behdeinkhlam Festival sanctity, all the elders engaged in different religious activities halted at Iung Langdoh from this day until the festival is over.