Preparations for the Nongkrem Dance Festival

Preparations for the Nongkrem Dance festival in the Khasi Hills Meghalaya, is an incredible sight. The whole community, young and old, men and women come together and join in for preparations. Each year one side of the roof is built from natural materials. This year it was the right side, ready for the dance in front of the cultural centre and the rituals inside. The villagers of Smit all join in unity first building up the roof and cleaning the foreground for the dances, as well as preparing food and elaborate costumes for the ritual dances that take place in December every year.