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Meghalaya: Raid Marngar Syiem Issues Ban on Betel Nuts and Sohphlang During Harvest Season

Pa’iem Richard Syiem, the Syiem of Raid Marngar in Meghalaya, announced a strict prohibition on bringing fresh betel nuts and Sohphlang (Flemingia vestita) from external areas into any village within the Raid during the ongoing paddy harvesting season.

 Meghalaya: Raid Marngar Syiem Issues Ban on Betel Nuts and Sohphlang During Harvest Season

Pa’iem Richard Syiem, the Syiem of Raid Marngar in Meghalaya, announced a strict prohibition on bringing fresh betel nuts and Sohphlang (Flemingia vestita) from external areas into any village within the Raid during the ongoing paddy harvesting season.

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The directive applies to all residents, traders, visitors to Iewmawlong market, and the general public.

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The ban stems from long-standing traditional beliefs passed down through generations, which hold that introducing these items during the harvest period could invite misfortune and harm agricultural yields, particularly paddy crops.

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“This customary restriction is a sacred practice inherited from our ancestors to safeguard our harvests from natural disasters like hailstorms and tempests,” Pa’iem Richard Syiem explained. “Violations of this tradition are believed to trigger ‘eriong’ (hailstorms) and ‘phria’ (hailstones), which can devastate crops during this critical season.”

As the guardian of Raid Marngar’s customs, the Syiem emphasised that the order is mandatory for everyone in the region, including outsiders, until the harvest season concludes. He further cautioned that violators will face penalties under the customary laws of Raid Marngar. He said decisions were taken with a focus on preserving the cultural practices and protecting its agricultural livelihood.