Meghalaya festivals guide

Meghalaya festivals: when and where

Meghalaya's three main communities, the Khasi, the Pnar (Jaintia) and the Garo, each mark the farming year with their own festivals. Most follow traditional calendars, so dates move from year to year: the months below are the usual ones, and it is worth confirming the year's dates locally before you book.

Festivals in Meghalaya

Shad Suk Mynsiem

When: Usually April (spring), over three days
Where: Weiking Ground, Shillong
Community: Khasi

A thanksgiving dance for the harvest and the new sowing season. Women in traditional dress dance in the inner circle while men dance around them to drums and pipes.

Getting there: In Shillong itself, about 30 minutes by road from XTSY in New Shillong Township.

Behdienkhlam

When: Usually July, after the sowing season
Where: Jowai, West Jaintia Hills
Community: Pnar (Jaintia)

A festival to drive away sickness and pray for a good harvest. Its highlight is the raising of decorated wooden poles and a football-like game played in a muddy pool.

Getting there: Jowai is about 1½ hours by road from XTSY; go for the day or stay overnight.

Nongkrem Dance

When: Usually October or November, over five days
Where: Smit, near Shillong (Hima Khyrim)
Community: Khasi

A thanksgiving festival of the Khyrim kingdom, with goat sacrifice rituals and dances by young men and women in traditional silk and silver.

Getting there: Smit is a short drive from Shillong; combine it with Laitlum Canyons.

Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival

When: Usually November, when the Himalayan cherry trees bloom
Where: Shillong
Community: Everyone

Pink cherry blossoms across the city, with music, food and craft stalls. The festival has been held in some years and not others, so check the year's announcement.

Getting there: Blossoms line roads across Shillong and New Shillong; book early, as stays fill up.

Full Cherry Blossom Festival guide

Wangala (100 Drums Festival)

When: Usually November, after the harvest
Where: Asanang, near Tura, Garo Hills
Community: Garo

A harvest festival honouring Misi Saljong, the sun god, with long lines of dancers moving to the beat of a hundred drums.

Getting there: Tura is about 5½ hours from Guwahati by road and far from Shillong; plan at least two nights in the Garo Hills.

Nearby in the Northeast

Rongali (Bohag) Bihu

When: Mid-April
Where: Across Assam
Community: Assamese

The Assamese new year and spring festival, with Bihu dance, music and feasts.

Getting there: Guwahati is about 3 hours from XTSY by road.

Ziro Festival of Music

When: Usually late September
Where: Ziro Valley, Arunachal Pradesh
Community: Everyone

An outdoor independent-music festival in the rice fields of the Apatani plateau.

Getting there: Needs an Inner Line Permit for Arunachal Pradesh and a long road trip; XTSY arranges it through trusted partners.

Hornbill Festival

When: 1–10 December every year
Where: Kisama Heritage Village, near Kohima, Nagaland
Community: Naga tribes

Nagaland's biggest festival, showcasing the dances, food and crafts of all its tribes.

Getting there: Needs an Inner Line Permit for Nagaland; book stays in Kohima months ahead.

Tips for festival visitors

Many festivals are religious ceremonies first. Dress modestly, follow the organisers' instructions and ask before photographing people.
Stays near festival grounds fill up early; book as soon as dates are announced.
Roads around festival venues get crowded. Leave early and carry cash.
The best time to visit guide covers the weather month by month; confirm festival dates before planning your trip.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most famous festival in Meghalaya?

Wangala, the Garo 100 Drums Festival near Tura, and Shad Suk Mynsiem, the Khasi spring dance in Shillong, are the best known. Behdienkhlam in Jowai is the biggest Pnar festival.

Which festival can I see from Shillong?

Shad Suk Mynsiem (usually April) is held in Shillong, the Nongkrem Dance (usually October or November) is at Smit nearby, and the Cherry Blossom Festival (usually November) takes place across the city.

Are festival dates the same every year?

No. Most follow traditional or agricultural calendars, so confirm the dates for your year before booking. The Hornbill Festival in Nagaland is the exception: it runs 1–10 December every year.

Can XTSY plan a festival trip?

Yes. XTSY arranges stays, transport and timing from New Shillong, and works with trusted partners for festivals elsewhere in the Northeast.