Kongthong village

October 6, 2023

The charming whistling village of Kongthong, located in the East Khasi Hills of Meghalaya, has been awarded the ‘Best Tourism Village (Bronze)’ at the National Tourism Awards 2023 by the Ministry of Tourism.
Kongthong, with a population of approximately 750 inhabitants, is a Meghalayan gem that has managed to preserve a unique tradition known as “Jingrwai Iawbei.”
This tradition roughly translates to the “song of the first clan lady” and involves the practice of creating a unique melody for each individual in the community.
This melody, or jingrwai lawbei, is used to call out to the person and is believed to be so distinctive that it can even be heard by the spirits of the ancestors.