Meghalaya: Preserving Khasi musical heritage in West Khasi Hills

By Richard Marngar

NONGSTOIN:

Anno Dominik Lyngkhoi is a well-known musician, composer, singer and a creator of Khasi traditional instruments who recently discovered two more Khasi traditional instruments - the Shitara and Saitara.

A resident of Mawlangdep village, which is around eight kilometres from Nongstoin in West Khasi Hills, Lyngkhoi loves to collect instruments and many traditional Khasi items.

Speaking to TNT-The Northeast Today, Lyngkhoi said he wants to collect and find more Khasi traditional instruments and items that have been forgotten over the years.

“From the year 2000 I have been collecting and creating traditional instruments, however, there are a lot more to find out,” he said.

Lyngkhoi said that he wants to build a mini-museum to preserve such traditional items in one place and would later prove valuable to college students and researchers.

“I want to preserve these traditional instruments and items used by our ancestors to keep the Khasi culture alive and for the benefit of the future generations,” he said.

Lyngkhoi is also one among the many musicians who would regularly perform on All India Radio Shillong.

Being a multitalented individual, Lyngkhoi shares his talents by teaching his children and even a few college students how to play traditional instruments.

On a more personal note, Lyngkhoi stated that he longs for the state government and the District Council to set up a mini-museum in every district to preserve the traditional items of the Khasis and the Garos.

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