India celebrates Behdeinkhlam Festival with Tradition

The hill town of Jowai, in West Jaintia Hills district, echoed with chants, rhythmic drumbeats, and festive joy as thousands gathered to mark the spiritually significant Behdeinkhlam Festival. Held annually after the sowing season, the festival serves as a spiritual cleansing ritual and a collective prayer for protection for both the crops and the health of the people.

Central to the celebrations were the towering, artistically crafted ‘Rots’  large wooden structures designed and decorated by each locality. This year’s Rots stood out for their powerful social themes, including environmental protection, women’s safety, Operation Sindoor (anti-drug awareness), and the evolving role of Artificial Intelligence in society.