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About
Meghalaya
 The State of Meghalaya is situated on the north east of
India. It extends for about 300 kilometres in length and about
100 kilometres in breadth. It is bounded on the north by
Goalpara, Kamrup and Nowgong districts, on the east by Karbi
Anglong and North Cachar Hills districts, all of Assam, and on
the south and west by Bangladesh.
Meghalaya or 'abode of the
clouds', is a source of inspiration to any poet, a dramatic
canvas for an artist's dream, and the ideal retreat for people
in search of beauty and solitude. Declared as a state on 21st
January, 1972, Meghalaya is one of the most picturesque states
of India, offering a spectrum of sylvan surroundings, rich
cultural heritage, misty heights, breathtakingly beautiful
waterfalls, luxurious vegetation, flora and fauna.
Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya
is located at an altitude of 1496 metres above sea level.
Shillong, which was made Assam's capital in 1874, remained so
till January 1972, following the formation of Meghalaya. The
capital city derives its name from the manifestation of the
creator called Shyllong.Meghalaya is subject to vagaries of
the monsoon. The climate varies with altitude. The climate of
Khasi and Jaintia Hills is uniquely pleasant and bracing. It
is neither too warm in summer nor too cold in winter, but over
the plains of Garo Hills, the climate is warm and humid,
except in winter.
The Meghalayan sky seldom remains
free of clouds. The average annual rainfall is about 2600 mm
over western Meghalaya, between 2500 to 3000 mm over northern
Meghalaya and about 4000 mm over south-eastern Meghalaya.
There is a great variation of rainfall over central and
southern Meghalaya. At Sohra (Cherrapunji), the average annual
rainfall is as high as 12000 millimetres, but Shillong located
at a distance of about fifty kilometres from Sohra receives an
average of 2200 mm of rainfall annually.
Meghalaya is the homeland mainly of the Khasis, the
Jaintias and the Garos. The Garos inhabit western Meghalaya,
the Khasis in central Meghalaya, and the Jaintias in eastern
Meghalaya. The Khasi, Jaintia, Bhoi, War, collectively known
as the Hynniewtrep people predominantly inhabit the districts
East of Meghalaya, also known to be one of the earliest ethnic
group of settlers in the Indian sub-continent, belonging to
the Proto Austroloid Monkhmer race. The Garo Hills is
predominantly inhabited by the Garos, belonging to the Bodo
family of the Tibeto-Burman race, said to have migrated from
Tibet. The Garos prefer to call themselves as Achiks and the
land they inhabit, as the Achik-land.
 The majority of the population here has converted to
Christianity, while non-Christians continue to worship, and
practice old cultural beliefs. Colourful dances and festivals
of the tribals, vary according to the region and tribe to
which they belong. The Government of Meghalaya, in order to
render the festivities a major tourist attraction, organises
annual festivals. Festivals, apart from those of the Christian
faith, are held to signify occasions where ancestral spirits
are appeased, following sowing and harvesting. Ka Pomblang
Nongkrem, popularly known as the Nongkrem dance, is one of the
most important festivals of the Khasis. It is held as a
thanksgiving ceremony to God Almighty, for the harvest and as
a prayer for peace and prosperity. Shad Sukmynsiem is another
important festival of the Khasis.
Behdiengkhlam, the
most significant festival of the Jaintias is celebrated
annually at Jowai in Jaintia Hills, during the month of July.
The prominent festival of the Garos is Wangala, observed to
honour and offer sacrifices to their principal deity, Saljong
(Sungod).Agriculture is the main occupation of Meghalaya, with
eighty three percent of the total population, dependent on it
for their livelihood. Rice and maize are the major food crops.
Important fruits grown here are orange, pineapple, lemon,
guava, jackfruit and bananas, while potato, jute, mesta,
cotton, arecanut, ginger, turmeric, betel leaf and black
pepper are the chief commercial crops. 'Jhum' or the shifting
system of cultivation is being replaced with scientific
methods, bringing land under permanent cultivation. Forest
resources from pine and other timber products bring in the
major chunk of state revenue. The state has many small scale
industries in furniture making, iron and steel fabrication,
tyre retreading and baking, to name the principal ones.
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