Behdienkhlam

Behdienkhlam is a traditional festival of the Pnar (Jaintia) community in Meghalaya, India. It is celebrated annually in the Jaintia Hills, with Jowai serving as a central hub for the main events. The festival marks the harvest season and the return of the monsoon, and it functions as a rite of purification intended to drive away disease and misfortune while inviting rain for a bountiful crop.

The celebrations feature customary dances, songs, and processions performed by communities from several villages. A key element is the public ritual that involves traditional attire, drums, and flutes, with participants gathering at ceremonial grounds to perform around a central area. The events emphasize communal solidarity, with feasting, visiting relatives, and the exchange of gifts as integral components of the occasion.

Dates for Behdienkhlam vary each year, as the festival is tied to the agricultural calendar and the lunar phase, typically occurring in July or August. The festival is an important expression of Jaintia cultural identity and continues to be observed by many villages in the region, attracting visitors from within Meghalaya and beyond.