Meghalaya, often referred to as the "abode of the clouds," boasts a rich cultural heritage showcased through its numerous festivals. Among the most notable celebrations are Wangala, a traditional harvest festival; Shad Suk Mynsiem, a ceremonial dance of gratitude; and the Strawberry Festival. Another widely celebrated event is the Cherry Blossom Festival, held annually in Shillong.
The best way to experience the culture of any region up close is to participate in its major festival. So here we are with another blog on the festivals of Meghalaya, which you can witness on our special Meghalaya trips.
Witnessing these festivals in Meghalaya will be a perfect opportunity to watch locals in their traditional attire, try authentic Meghalayan food, listen to local music, watch folk dance performances, and much more.
Let’s dive into the details of these cultural festivals in Meghalaya so you can plan your journey around the festival months in Meghalaya!
11 Famous Festivals in Meghalaya
- Festival Time: April
- Festival Duration: 3 days
- Place for Best Celebration: Weiking Ground, Shillong, and Khasi villages
- Highlights of the Festival:
- Traditional Khasi dances by men and women
- Vibrant traditional attire and jewelry
- Drumbeats and flute music
- Gratitude to nature for a good harvest
Shad Suk Mynsiem also called the “Dance of Joyful Hearts,” is one of the famous festivals in Meghalaya. It celebrates nature’s blessings, harvest, and fertility. Women in colorful traditional attire symbolize the earth’s fertility, while men represent the protectors of the community.
Held in places like Weiking Ground, one of the best places to visit in Shillong, the festival features vibrant dances accompanied by drumbeats and bamboo flute music. As one of the prominent cultural festivals in Meghalaya, Shad Suk Mynsiem showcases the Khasi community’s deep respect for nature and ancestral traditions, making it a must-see among festivals in Meghalaya.
- Festival Dates: December 25 (celebrations throughout December)
- Festival Duration: 1 month (major celebrations on Christmas Eve (24th Dec) and Christmas Day)
- Place for Best Celebration: Shillong, Tura, and Christian villages across Meghalaya
- Highlights of the Festival:
- Midnight Masses in beautifully decorated churches
- Christmas carols and community feasts
- Homes adorned with lights, stars, and nativity scenes
- Local musical performances and festive markets
Christmas is a popular festival of Meghalaya, celebrated with great enthusiasm by the Christian-majority population. The month-long festivities include church services, carol singing, and vibrant community feasts. Shillong is a hub of celebrations, where churches and streets are illuminated, and cultural events bring people together. You can visit the famous churches in Shillong to participate in the festivities.
In Tura and smaller villages, homes are decorated with nativity scenes and stars, creating a warm, festive atmosphere. Among the many festivals in Meghalaya, Christmas stands out for its joyous spirit and deep cultural significance. Visiting during December offers a chance to experience this beautiful festival and the rich traditions of the region.
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- Festival Time: November
- Festival Duration: 5 days
- Place for Best Celebration: Smit Village, Meghalaya
- Highlights of the Festival:
- Ritual sacrifices of goats
- Prayers for a good harvest
- Traditional Nongkrem dance in colorful attire
- Rituals performed by the Syiem (chief of the Khasi state)
The Nongkrem Festival is a sacred Khasi festival of Meghalaya held in Smit Village, one of the offbeat places to visit in Meghalaya. Celebrated for five days, the festival is dedicated to Goddess Ka Blei Synshar, seeking her blessings for prosperity and a bountiful harvest.
Goat sacrifices and prayers are central rituals, followed by the Nongkrem dance performed by men and women in traditional Khasi attire. The festival highlights Khasi traditions and is a key event in the list of festivals in Meghalaya, offering visitors a glimpse into the region’s rich heritage.
- Festival Time: July
- Festival Duration: 3 days
- Place for Best Celebration: Jowai, West Jaintia Hills
- Highlights of the Festival:
- Rituals to drive away evil spirits and diseases
- Immersion of decorated logs in water
- Ceremonial dances and community feasts
- Log-rolling competition (Khnong Riti)
Behdienkhlam is a famous monsoon festival celebrated by the Pnar (Jaintia) community in Jowai, one of the most fascinating places to visit in Meghalaya. It is held to ward off evil spirits and ensure good health and prosperity. Decorated wooden logs, symbolizing evil, are paraded through the town and immersed in a sacred pool.
Khnong Riti, a log-rolling competition, is one of the exciting things to do in Jowai during this festival. As one of the most unique cultural festivals in Meghalaya, Behdienkhlam reflects the community’s unity and respect for ancient traditions, making it a must-see festival in the region.
- Festival Time: April-May
- Festival Duration: 1 day
- Place for Best Celebration: Jowai and other Khasi villages
- Highlights of the Festival:
- Traditional dances and rituals by the Khasi community
- Prayers for a successful planting season
- Community feasts and gatherings
- Celebration of unity and agricultural prosperity
Shad Sukra is one of the famous festivals in Meghalaya that marks the start of the sowing season. Celebrated in April or May, this festival reflects the Khasi people’s reverence for nature and their agricultural roots. Rituals and dances are performed to seek blessings from the divine for a fruitful harvest.
Jowai is one of the best places to enjoy the festivities, where communities gather for prayers and feasts. Among the many festivals of Meghalaya, Shad Sukra stands out as a celebration of harmony and agricultural heritage. Exploring the best places to visit in Jowai along with this festival is one of the memorable experiences.
- Festival Time: November
- Festival Duration: 2 days
- Place for Best Celebration: Tura, Garo Hills
- Highlights of the Festival:
- Traditional dances and drumming (Dama Gogata)
- Honoring the sun god Misi Saljong
- Men and women in colorful tribal attire
- Competitions like indigenous games and art
The Wangala Festival is a significant festival of Garo tribe in Meghalaya, celebrated to thank the sun god for a bountiful harvest. Known as the “100 Drums Festival,” it is held in November and features rhythmic drumming, dancing, and rituals. Tura, in the Garo Hills, is one of the most vibrant places to visit in Garo Hills in Meghalaya during this festival.
Wangala Festival event is a display of Garo culture and traditions, making it one of the most popular festivals of Meghalaya. Witnessing the celebrations of the Garo tribe during this thanksgiving festival to the god of fertility is definitely something not be missed!
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- Festival Time: February
- Festival Duration: 1 day
- Place for Best Celebration: Sohliya Village, Ri-Bhoi District
- Highlights of the Festival:
- Showcasing locally grown strawberries
- Music and dance performances
- Stalls offering food and strawberry-based products
- Promoting tourism and local farming
The Strawberry Festival is a unique event celebrated in February to showcase the strawberry harvest of Sohliya village. It is one of the newest cultural festivals of Meghalaya, promoting the efforts of local farmers and drawing visitors to the scenic Ri-Bhoi district. Visitors can taste freshly plucked strawberries, enjoy live music, and explore various food stalls.
Strawberry Festival is one of the lesser-known festivals of Meghalaya that attracts tourists and highlights the importance of sustainable farming. Exploring this festival is highly recommended for those looking for exciting things to do in Meghalaya during the early festival months in Meghalaya.
8. Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival
- Festival Time: November
- Festival Duration: 3–4 days
- Place for Best Celebration: Shillong city, especially Ward’s Lake and Polo Grounds
- Highlights of the Festival:
- Blooming pink cherry blossoms
- Live music, cultural performances, and art exhibitions
- Local food stalls and wine-tasting events
- Night markets and fashion shows
The Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival is one of the most famous festivals in Meghalaya, celebrated when the cherry blossoms bloom in November. It is held at key venues like Ward’s Lake and Polo Grounds, making it one of the most exciting things to do in Shillong during this popular festivals of Meghalaya.
Visitors can enjoy live music, food stalls, and even wine-tasting events. This festival showcases Shillong’s unique beauty and cultural vibrancy, attracting both locals and tourists. If you are exploring festivals of Meghalaya, the Cherry Blossom Festival is a must-see event that highlights the region’s charm.
9. Umsan Nongkharai Festival
- Festival Time: April-May
- Festival Duration: 1 day
- Place for Best Celebration: Umsan Nongkharai village, Ri-Bhoi District
- Highlights of the Festival:
- Sacred rituals by Khasi priests
- Prayers to deities for prosperity
- Traditional songs and dances
- Community feasts and celebrations
The Umsan Nongkharai Festival is an important Khasi festival of Meghalaya, celebrated by the Khasi community in Umsan Nongkharai village. This is one of the popular festivals of Meghalaya which takes place during the sowing season, typically in April or May. The festival is centered around rituals performed by local priests to seek blessings from deities for prosperity and good health.
Traditional dances and songs add a joyful vibe to the celebrations, making it a wonderful way to experience Khasi traditions. As one of the lesser-known festivals in Meghalaya, it offers a glimpse into the spiritual practices of the Khasi people.
- Festival Time: December
- Festival Duration: 3 days
- Place for Best Celebration: Tura and Songsak, Garo Hills
- Highlights of the Festival:
- Celebration of Garo tribal traditions and eco-tourism
- Local handicrafts and indigenous cuisines
- Cultural performances, including tribal dances and music
- Promotion of East Garo Hills as a tourism destination
The Me.Gong Festival is one of the most unique festivals of Meghalaya, celebrated in December to honor the Garo tribe’s cultural heritage. Hosted in Songsak and Tura, Garo Hills, the festival aims to promote the region’s rich traditions and eco-tourism potential. Visitors can enjoy vibrant cultural performances, explore local handicrafts, and savor indigenous Garo cuisine during this festival of Garo tribe in Meghalaya.
Me.Gong Festival also promotes eco-tourism, so you can also explore the best places to visit in Tura and Songsak during this festival. The event also emphasizes preserving the environment and fostering sustainable development in the Garo Hills. As one of the most anticipated festivals in Meghalaya during the late festival months in Meghalaya, the Me.Gong Festival offers a memorable experience to those seeking insight into the Garo way of life.
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- Festival Time: July
- Festival Duration: 3 days
- Place for Best Celebration: Jowai, Jaintia Hills
- Highlights of the Festival:
- Traditional Pnar dances and rituals
- Prayers to protect crops from diseases
- Immersion of wooden logs in sacred water
- Community feasts and cultural events
The Pnars Festival, also known as Behdienkhlam, is a monsoon festival celebrated by the Pnar community in Jowai, one of the top places to visit in Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya. It is held in July to drive away evil spirits and ensure good health and prosperity. The highlight is the procession of decorated wooden logs, which are later immersed in sacred water.
Ritual dances and prayers are also performed. As one of the oldest festivals in Meghalaya, the Pnars Festival showcases the deep cultural roots of the Jaintia community. Experiencing it is among the most fascinating things to do in Meghalaya.
