Sohra
Encyclopedia
Sohra, also known as Chur(r)ra (a British Raj
corruption), is one of the hima
(Khasi tribal chieftainships constituting petty Khasi Hills States) in the present East Khasi Hills district
of the (formerly Assamese) Indian state of Meghalaya
.
It was originally homonymous with its capital, a town which is now known as Cherrapunji
or -punjee.
Sohra is the place where British Christian missionaries first came into contact with the Khasi tribal community and introduced them to Christianity in the early 18th century. The British also gave the Khasis their script, English, but helped them systematise their grammar.
Currently, Mawsinram, a small village has replaced Sohra in exact statistic on the highest rainfall anywhere in the world.
From December 2010, the local legislator of Sohra, who at the time was Dr PW Khongjee, created the Cherrapunjee Indigenous Festival, showcasing Khasi indigenous culture, including the Phawar system of narratives that followed most activities, like going out for fishing, or celebrating good harvest and so on. Dances like "the small fish" dance" which is enacted just before going out for fishing in the autumn, or the playing of the Bum (big) drum, dance for the gamblers, etc., were enacted on a massive, ultra-modern stage. Local cuisine, wild honey and Sohra's famous fruits sold in stalls that ringed the arena.
From 2010, Cherrapunjee Indigenous Festival has become an annual event in the first week of December.
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
corruption), is one of the hima
Hima
A himá "inviolate zone" refers to an area set aside for the conservation of natural capital, typically fields, wildlife and forests - contrast ḥaram, which defines an area protected for more immediate human purposes....
(Khasi tribal chieftainships constituting petty Khasi Hills States) in the present East Khasi Hills district
East Khasi Hills district
East Khasi Hills is an administrative district in the state of Meghalaya in India. The district headquarters are located at Shillong. The district occupies an area of 2752 km² and has a population of 660,994...
of the (formerly Assamese) Indian state of Meghalaya
Meghalaya
Meghalaya is a state in north-eastern India. The word "Meghalaya" literally means the Abode of Clouds in Sanskrit and other Indic languages. Meghalaya is a hilly strip in the eastern part of the country about 300 km long and 100 km wide, with a total area of about 8,700 sq mi . The...
.
It was originally homonymous with its capital, a town which is now known as Cherrapunji
Cherrapunji
Cherrapunji , is a subdivisional town in the East Khasi Hills district in the Indian state of Meghalaya. It is credited as being the second wettest place on Earth...
or -punjee.
Sohra is the place where British Christian missionaries first came into contact with the Khasi tribal community and introduced them to Christianity in the early 18th century. The British also gave the Khasis their script, English, but helped them systematise their grammar.
Currently, Mawsinram, a small village has replaced Sohra in exact statistic on the highest rainfall anywhere in the world.
From December 2010, the local legislator of Sohra, who at the time was Dr PW Khongjee, created the Cherrapunjee Indigenous Festival, showcasing Khasi indigenous culture, including the Phawar system of narratives that followed most activities, like going out for fishing, or celebrating good harvest and so on. Dances like "the small fish" dance" which is enacted just before going out for fishing in the autumn, or the playing of the Bum (big) drum, dance for the gamblers, etc., were enacted on a massive, ultra-modern stage. Local cuisine, wild honey and Sohra's famous fruits sold in stalls that ringed the arena.
From 2010, Cherrapunjee Indigenous Festival has become an annual event in the first week of December.