Nongkrem Dance

Held in the courtyard of the Nongkrem Syiem or chief’s residence in the picturesque town of Smit, the Nongkrem Dance is a significant festival of the Khasis. The venue, the Iing sad itself is a very important symbol of the khasis – a large thatched building (or palace) that was constructed without the use of metal parts. The Nongkrem dance festival is a five-day long event and there are many rituals performed involving the current royal of the Khyrim Hima (kingdom). The members are widely recognized and revered in traditional administration and remain torchbearers for the centuries-old indigenous practices of the Khasis. The pomblang or goat sacrifice ceremony precedes the dance, where unmarried maidens and male members of the community constitute the dancing troupe. All participants are attired the best of traditional outfits.