Villages of Meghalaya exhibit a great scenic beauty with hilly areas and dense forests. The cultural richness and heritage of the villages of Meghalaya attract many tourists from all over the country every year. A major portion of Meghalaya"s total population resides in the rural areas. People from different religious beliefs live in the villages of Meghalaya. A major portion of the rural population in Meghalaya is comprised of Christians.
Education in Villages of Meghalaya
The education scenario in the villages of Meghalaya is impressive. A majority of the rural population in the state are educated. The governmental authorities have established many primary schools in the villages to provide primary education to the children. The students can also pursue higher education in the colleges and universities mostly established in the urban areas. New initiatives have been taken to further spread the light of education in all the villages of Meghalaya as well.
Occupation in Villages of Meghalaya
Most people in the villages of Meghalaya are dependent on agriculture to earn their livelihoods. The villages receive heavy rainfall due to the south-west monsoon and this heavy rainfall helps in the cultivation of crops to a great extent. The major crops cultivated in the villages of Meghalaya include rice, maize, fruits like orange, lemon, pineapple, guava, litchi, banana, jackfruit and the temperate fruits like plum, pear, peach, etc. There are a few cash crops cultivated in the villages of Meghalaya that include potato, ginger, turmeric, black pepper, areca nut, tej patta, betel vine, short-staple cotton, jute, mesta, mustard and rapeseed, etc. The other major crops include the non-traditional crops like tea, cashew nut, oilseeds, tomato, mushroom, wheat, etc.
Festivals in Villages of Meghalaya
The residents in the villages of Meghalaya celebrate several fairs and festivals throughout the year. They are cheerful in nature and the festivals serve as their platforms for social communication. The festivals in Meghalaya can be put into 2 categories like religious festivals and dance festivals. The major religious festivals celebrated in the villages of Meghalaya include Behdienkhlam, Shad Suk Mynsiem, Wangala, Ka Pomblang Nongkrem, Umsan Nongkharai, Saram Cha`A, etc. On the other hand, the most popular dance festivals in the villages of Meghalaya are Doregata Dance Festival, Lahoo Dance Festival, Chambil Mesara or Pomelo Dance Festival, Shad Beh Sier, Nongkrem Dance festival, etc.
The diverse cultural identity of the villages of Meghalaya is one of the most attractive features of the state.