Address:
Shillong, EAST KHASI HILLS ,MEGHALAYA - 793001
About type of art
Ka Shad Mastieh, a Warrior Dance is an ancient war dance of the Khasi community performed by a group of male dancers. The dance is performed to honour the memory of their forefathers who laid down their lives to protect the honour and dignity of the women folk of the community and to protect their land from enemies.
To the Khasi people rhythm and dance are embedded in their DNA and when the thud of the drum Kaksingis being played, the people present around the dance arena nod their heads in keeping with the rhythm of the hills. In this dance form, there are two or more men participate in a rhythmic motion, the mode of heeling and stepping out being similar to KaNohkjat, another dance form. KaNohkjat is only when they strike the ground to commence it then stepping out faster and briskly. After gyrating for sometime, two men at a time rapidly approach one another and clash their swords together in a mock combat. Shad sukmynsiem with female dancers start at the beginning. Happens after shad mastieh, circles and then bend to thank God.