The people of Meghalaya have a rich tribal cultural heritage. One of the distinct features of the culture of the people is their tradition of matrilinealsystem where lineage and inheritance are traced through women. Dance is an indispensible part of the culture of the people Meghalaya especially among the Khasi community. These dance forms depict the history or the life cycle of an individual or a village or a conglomeration of villages. These dance forms vary according to their regional taste but still portray a universal culture. The people of this community celebrate various festivals like Ka Shad Suk Mynsiem, Ka Pom-Blang Nongkrem, Ka-Shad Shyngwiang-Thangiap, Ka-Shad-Kynjoh Khaskain, Ka Bam Khana Shnong, Umsan Nongkharai, and Shad Beh Sier. According to the Jaintias culture festivals are celebrated mainly to bring a balance between man, his culture and his natural environment or eco-system. The people also believe that the celebration of festivals brings unity and good spirit among the population and the surroundings.
The staple food of the people of Meghalaya is rice, dried fish and meat. They are mostly non- vegetarians. They eat wild animals like deer, bison, wild pigs, fish, prawns, crabs, eels and dry fish. They rear domestic animals like goats, pigs, fowls, and ducks only to feast on them. Apart from rice they also consume millets, maize, tapioca, etc. The food is very bland and to taste they add fish chutney which is very common among the people. Vegetables along with roots are used in their cooking. Bamboo shoots are used in curry preparations and it is one of their favourite.They use a kind of potash in curries, which they obtain by burning dry pieces of plantain stems or young bamboos locally known as Kalchi or Katchi. Jadoh prepared with pork and rice is one of the local favourites. Kyat is a local drink made of rice and beer and alcoholfeatures in their everyday menu.
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These cotton fabrics have beautiful borders which are about six to ten inches and are designed with attractive motifs or floral patterns. It includes a Jainsen, concealing till the ankles, which is topped off by a blouse. On top of all these garments they tie a cotton shawl which goes round the neck and then pinned at the shoulders which looks more like an apron. Some of the senior women of the community also wear a strip of woolen cloth called Jainkup.The women folk of the Jaintia at the time of harvest work cover their head with a cloth piece known as "Kyrshah".She covers herself from the shoulders to the ankles, with a velvet blouse, along with a sarong called Thoh Khyrwang wrapped round her waist. The men of Meghalaya usually wear dhoti kind of apparel which is mostly unstitched and they pull on a jacket along with a headgear or turban. But however now slowly western concept of dressing up is entering the realms.
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The land of Meghalaya is dowered with a rich heritage of Meghalaya music, as its occupants just love to get drenched in its holy spirit that drives away all sorts of worries and vexations. In fact, all the major festivals in the state of Meghalaya pivot around the mesmerizing songs and dances that truly rejuvenates the soul and the mind.
The heavenly delectable valleys that spans across the terrain of Meghalaya reverberate with the soul-stirring tunes of the music emerging out from the hearts of the residents. Traditional songs, legendary instruments and a soothing tempo are all the necessary ingredients that has metamorphosed Meghalaya music into an absolute treat.
The music of Meghalaya mainly draws its inspiration from natural beauties like the water falls, hills, lakes etc. It is the individuals belonging to the Jaintias and the Khasis who consider music to be the sole passion of their life.
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Meghalaya festivals and events reflect the vibrant culture and traditions of the Meghalayan society. Wangala, Shad Nongkem, Shad Suk Mynsiem and Beh-Dien-Khalm forms the major part of the Meghalayan festivals and events. Festivals and events are marked throughout the year in Meghalaya, that is to say, throughout the year, we come across many festivals and events in Meghalaya. It is typical of Meghalayan festivals that they are marked by folk dances and folk songs and music. Wangala .
Another important festivals and events of Meghalaya is the Shad Nongkrem. This festival is held every year at Smit, the capital of the Khyrem Syiemship situated near Shillong. Initially, Shad Nongkrem used to be held during May, but lately, the festival has been shifted to November. During this festival, goats are sacrificed by the people of Syiem of Khyrem, in the name of their ancestors. The festivities of Shad Nongkrem precedes tribal dance by the unmarried girls decked in rich Meghalayan jewelry and adornments. Men accompany the women in the dance performances. Shad Suk Mynsiem
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The customs and the traditions followed by the people of Meghalaya varies to a great extent which in turn has lot of diversity among the different communities itself. It is the girl who propses a match to the boy which is very unlikely across the country and these marriages strictly follow two laws namely Exogamy and Akim in which marriages are not permitted within the same clan and also a a man or a woman who has once contracted marriage will never be free to remarry a person of another clan, even after the death of his/ her spouse. But they can marry a person from the same clan in case of the death of the spouse. Likewise if the husband is dead the wife has the right to marry one of her nephews of the deceased husband and in turn if the wife is dead the husband can marry one of the sisters of the wife. A person in the community is permitted to marry according to his or her choice only when there are no subsitutes arranged. The people of Meghalaya follow their traditionalreligious system which was originally a mix of Pantheism and Hinduism.
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The people of Meghalaya are known for their weaving skills and creating cane mats, stools, and baskets. A special kind of fabric known as dakmanda is weaved by the people of the Garo community. Tlieng is a durable variety of cane mat weaved by the people. They also weave baskets and chairs out of cane and bamboo is used to make fish traps. The 'Garo' tribe weaves 'Dakmanda', a material used for their dresses along with shirts, bed covers, bed sheets and tablecloths. Silk weaving and carpet weaving are also part of their art and crafts for which the people are famous.
Meghalaya crafts constitute one of the major sources of cultural heritage of the tribal people of the state. The major crafts of Meghalaya are weaving, bamboo and cane crafts, carving, jewelery, engraving, wood works, Khasi locks, carpets and wall hangings.
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