Meghalaya literally means the `land of clouds`. The state of Meghalaya is believed to be the home of dances and music. The festivals of Meghalaya are associated with their different dance forms and hence they are to be enjoyed throughout the year. Each tribe has its own set of festivals in which they actively participate to enhance their festive spirit and to come of their monotonous life. In fact the indigenous festivals of this beautiful state mirror its diverse heritage during the celebration of the seasonal cycle of sowing and harvesting. Most of the festivals of Meghalaya revolve around agriculture, which is the prime occupation of the state people. Although some religious and spiritual sentiments are interwoven into secular rites and rituals, the pre-dominant themes of the festivals is to offer prayers to the Supreme Being who is known by different names in different Naga dialects. But participation of all in these festivals is compulsory.

Religious Festivals
Behdienkhlam
This is one of the most popular festivals of Meghalaya. It is celebrated during the monsoon season in the month of July at Jowai and Tuber in the hills of Jaintia. This grand festival is characterized by religious ceremonies and dancing at a pool called `eit nar` and also includes a football game called `datlawakor`. This festival is essentially celebrated to seek the blessings of the Almighty for a bounteous yield of crops in the following year and also to chase away various kind of diseases and plague.

Shad Suk Mynsiem
This colorful festival of Meghalaya is in fact a thanksgiving festival celebrated during the season of spring all over Khasi hills. The beautiful maidens adorn themselves in traditional finery and men-folk in vibrant colored costumes participate with much enthusiasm in the traditional dance to the accompaniment of drum beats and other musical instruments.

Wangala
This is a major festival of the Garo tribes in the state of Meghalaya and is gaily celebrated after the harvest season. During this festival the locals hold propitiation ceremonies in honor of the deity Patigipa Rarongipa in almost every village of the state. The people of the state follow the religious rites and rituals with much veneration for a consecutive period of four days and nights accompanied by unrestrained jollity. The conclusion of the festival is marked by the warrior`s dance which is indeed a magnificent and enchanting spectacle to observe.

Ka Pomblang Nongkrem
Ka Pomblang Nongkrem is one of the most famous festivals of Meghalaya. This much-awaited festival takes place at Smit, the capital of Kheyrem Syiemship, near Shilong in the state of Meghalaya. This is usually a harvest festival and is considered to be the most eminent festival of the `Khasi` community of Meghalaya. There are several religious rites and rituals associated with this festival among which the offering of goats (also known as Pomblang ceremony) to the administrative head is the most important one. The first day of the festival is marked by a royal dance performance which takes place at the dawn. Besides the traditional dances the sword dances, music, colorful costumes and stunning jewelry enhance the spirit of the festive celebrations.

Umsan Nongkharai
This is one of the most special festivals of Meghalaya and is grandly celebrated in the months of April/May according to the Christian calendar. It commences on Sugi Lyngka with a ceremonial sacrifice of a goat and two cocks before the supreme deity of the Khasis-Lei Shyllong. After the prayers are offered to establish the person-to-person contact between the finite and infinite, male dancers dance to the rhythmic beats till sunrise. On the second day of the festival ritualistic prayers are offered whereas on the third day divine blessings are sought. A symbolic "fertility" ritual is enacted on the fourth day whereas on the fifth and final day public worship is done and fish from the Umran River are offered as special gifts.

Saram Cha`A
This is a post harvest festival of the Attongs celebrated around the same time as the Wangala festival. It is also a thanksgiving festival but does not involve the extreme merriment as of the Wangala festival. This much-awaited festival of the Attongs is celebrated in the months of September/October. The priests chant religious hymns and an offering of an egg; a chicken, boiled rice and curry are made to the local Deity. Domestic animals are also killed on this auspicious occasion for the purpose of feasting.

Dance Festivals
Doregata Dance Festival
This is a very popular dance festival held in the state of Meghalaya. In this dance the female members try to knock off the turbans of their male counterparts. While dancing if the women are able to knock off the turbans successfully it is followed by a peal of laughter.

Lahoo Dance Festival
This dance festival in the state of Meghalaya is performed with much excitement and exuberance with the sole purpose of entertaining the locals. It is performed by both males and females. Both the men and women folks are dressed in vibrant colored outfits. In this dance two young men on either side of a woman hold arms together and dance in step. Lahoo dance festival is thus one of the most famous festivals of Meghalaya.

Chambil Mesara or Pomelo Dance Festival
This is one of the very popular dance festivals of Meghalaya. This solo dance form requires great skill. In this dance the performer hangs a pomelo on a cord tied to his waist and then makes a thrusting forward movement without any perceptible motion of the hips.

Shad Beh Sier
This deer hunting dance festival is solely dedicated to occupational merriment and is one of the most cherished festivals of Meghalaya. During the season of off-harvest, the male folks wander about the dense forests to prey for deer. When one or two deer are killed it becomes a local celebration. The youth of the village mount the slain deer on a bamboo pier and parade it through villages. The very hunting adventure turns out to be a stunning spectacle.