SHILLONG, AUG 18: The Meghalaya government has acquired 96 acres at Rongal Bri in East Garo Hills for a permanent venue for the Me’gong Festival, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma announced on Tuesday.
Speaking at the launch of “Ki Dienjat – Revisiting the Roots” at Taraghar State Guest House, Sangma said work has begun on the project to create replica villages of the state’s major tribes.
“We have just recently planned for a permanent location for the Me’gong festival at Rongal Bri in East Garo Hills. About 96 acres of land have been bought and we have started the work. In that place, we are planning to put up different villages of our different tribes,” Sangma said.
The aim, he said, is to offer tourists an immersive experience of tribal life. Visitors will be able to stay in the villages and participate in daily cultural practices.
“When people go there for the Me’gong festival, they can stay in a Khasi village. You will be dressed as a Khasi person and stay there as Khasis would stay in villages. You will experience the entire aspect of how a Khasi village and culture is,” he said.
Similar setups are planned for Garo, Jaintia, Pnar, War and other communities.
“We will have the Garo village, Jaintia, Pnar, War — you name it, as many as possible. We will have different villages within that space so that we are able to allow the experience to our guests and tourists coming from different locations,” the CM added.
Sangma said the project is part of the state’s effort to strengthen cultural identity amid rapid modernization and social media influence. “It is absolutely important for us to ground ourselves, to connect with our roots, to be able to create our identity, because at the end of the day that is what matters. It is even more important for the younger generation. It is so easy to lose track of who you are. That is why I really want our youngsters to be involved,” he said.
