The Garos in Meghalaya are known for fun and frolic. They celebrate a number of festivals each year which beckon no less tourists from the country and abroad. Tura steals the march on December 17 and 18 where the Garos celebrate the Ahia winter festival like the Wangala festival. The word “Ahaia” is a poetic song by the Ambengs who belong to the Garos. Both Wangala and Ahaia are celebrated to appease the giver and taker Garo gods with songs and dances. These speak volumes of the tribe, their characteristics and unique cultural heritage which are charming indeed. Every single word of the sings boasts of their diversity and rich cultural heritage of the Garo people.

Cultural shows, fashion shows, food stalls pull huge crowd irrespective of castes and creeds in the majestic Garo hills. 

 

Meghalaya is a storehouse of talents. Events after events in the beautiful north eastern state gives the tribal people no less scope to showcase their culture and talents. Finally, these events boost tourism corner that fetches huge revenue to the abode of cloud. Another festival that witnesses commendable tourists footfall is Pinjera festival.
 
The tourists take delight of the occasion at William Nagar with music, culture along with other entertainment programmes. Indigenous games and sports are lined up to celebrate the event with all pomp and gaiety.


Venue: William Nagar

Tyisam, the name of a solemn festival brings no less joy and freshness to Sikkim and its people apart from promoting tourism in the north eastern state. Festivity grips Baghmara area in the bounteous hilly state where thousands of people throng the sandy beaches of the river Simsang to soak in the joy of Tyisam festival. Cultural troupes from the north eastern region and outside transform the spot into a mini India where tradition and culture of the various ethnic groups dazzle pomp and gaiety. The festival comprises a huge exhibition by the local artisans and entrepreneurs, tug of war, boat race, inter block folk dance, folk songs, beach Sports.

Despite pinching coldwave, the north eastern city of Shillong strikes no less attention of the tourists who throng the Scotland of the East to share the joy of the Golf Course Tournament. The annual event of great excitement begins on November 30 to conclude on December1. Players and tourists from the far flung parts on this planet make the occasion more cheerful. The spot, one of the scenic and oldest course in the world, wears a festive look at the fag-end of November. Braving the chill, people in large number arrive in the golf course premises treading on road covered with thickening pine groves itself suggests the beauty and bounty of the city which hosts the crowd pulling event.

The annual event welcomes the prominent foreign players to make it a true course of golf tourism in the premier north eastern state. The prize amount of this professional event is also huge now a days.

A group of British servicemen brought Golf in the city in 1898 with a 9 hole course at Laban. Then its popularity gathered momentum during the first world war the western golfers residing in West Bengal upgraded it into an 18 hole designed by Capt. Jackson & C.K.Rhodes.

Spring is a season of beauty and bounty which gives Meghalaya a fresh lease of life. With the advent of the queen of the seasons, flowers start blooming brightly in the nook and corner of the abode of cloud. The season brings festivity to the joyous tribal people who cannot but celebrate the occasion.

The spotlight falls on the All Saint Hall in East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya where varieties of flowers, agricultural products are kept for exhibition and sale. The tourists take delight in intoxicating sights, sounds and smell as soon as they celebrate the joy of the non religious flower festival in April. During the last couple of years, the photographers from the far flung areas of the country to capture the beauty and bounty of the state in the cameras.   

Venue: Lalong Village

 

Kiew Lum Sohpetbneng, the name of a tiny spot in Meghalaya pulls huge crowd on the first Sundays in the month of February. The occasion is the annual pilgrimage of the indigenous Khasi people who believe in their sixteen hunts for the gods(Kiew eh-rngiew) who give you good fortune 25 kms away from the capital city of Shillong.       

On all these Sundays in February, those who live in these huts are believed to have been descending and ascending from their heavenly abode to the planet and leave back to the heavens through a golden bridge (Jingkieng Ksiar).
Tourists and pilgrims throng the spot to catch a glimpse of the existing footprints on the rocks near the sanctum sanctorum. That’s what the innocent golden age (Sotti Juk). The golden bridge broke down and those who were living in the huts (Hynniew Trep) started residing on the earth.

U Lum Sohpetbneng who happens to be the repository of ancient wisdom as kept in sacredness. Then it guarded the belief, integrity and cultural heritage of the Hynniewtrep people who have been a major tribe in Meghalaya. The umbilical peak symbolizing the spiritual belief of the Hynniewtreps bears a simple message of universal dimension meant for those who have been looking for peace. That’s why, the 4432 ft U Lum Sohpetbneng Peak is a spot for spiritual fulfillment at a stone’s throw distance from Umiam Lake on the National Highway No 40, 14 km distance from the Shillong Umroi Airport.


Venue: U Lum Sohpetbneng Peak, Umiam Lake

Venue: Shillong Golf Course