The Behdeinkhlam Festival, held in Jowai, Meghalaya, is a significant event for the Pnars, a tribal community. The festival, which translates to “driving away the plague,” is a prayer for a bountiful harvest and a means to dispel diseases and malevolence. It transcends tradition and upholds the Pnars’ ancient faith, Niamtre. The festival features unique dances, rituals, and a procession of a sacred wooden post, Symbud Khnong. It also promotes messages about drug avoidance and climate change.