Namaste!
We, Indian Legion are taking you to the land of unity in diversity, India!
This book is a journey through the country of various cultures, languages, colours and festivals, India.
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Endowed with pristine beauty, perpetual clouds and mists, lush greenery, crystal clear rivers, countless tumbling waterfalls, astounding living root bridges, and amazing culture with sturdy, intelligent, and hospitable people — Meghalaya.
The name literally means "the abode of clouds" from the Sanskrit word Megha, meaning “cloud”, and ā-laya, meaning “abode”. The place is as heavenly as its name suggests.
With an approximate area of 22,429 square kilometres and a population of 29,66,889 as estimated in 2011, this state is bound on the north and the east by Assam and on the south and the west by the international border of Bangladesh.
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The Khasi, Garo, and Jaintia tribes had their own kingdoms until the 19th century when the British incorporated Meghalaya into Assam in 1835, but still, it enjoyed semi-independent status under a treaty with the British Crown. After independence, Meghalaya was created as an autonomous state within the state of Assam on 2 April 1970. Still, the full-fledged State of Meghalaya came into existence on 21 January 1972, marking the beginning of a new era of the geopolitical history of North-Eastern India.
The current Chief Minister of Meghalaya, who rose to power in 2018, is Conrad Kongkal Sangma, belonging to National People's Party (NPP), a national-level party of the state. In 2020, Satya Pal Malik became the 19th Governor of Meghalaya.
The capital city of Shillong is nicknamed the "Scotland of the East" due to its striking similarity with the Scottish Highlands. Shillong is well-known for its educational institutions and heritage buildings as well as numerous beautiful places like Elephant Falls, Umiam Lake (popularly called Bara Pani meaning Big water), Shillong Peak overlooking the city, and the Shillong Golf Course, which is one of the best in the country.
Meghalaya is basically home to the Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo tribes, so its culture and heritage are diverse. Although English is the official language of the state, many other dialects like Khasi, Garo, Pnar are most spoken by the locals. The simplicity in the dressing style of the people here brings out the beauty in them. Jainsem, the traditional costume for women, is usually made of mulberry silk, a local specialty. Over the jainsem, they wear cotton shawls called tap-moh khlieh. Men wear a loincloth as their traditional dress. Likewise, Meghalaya’s cuisine has three distinctive styles. Mainly consisting of rice and vegetable curries or fish and meat as their prime food, some of its popular dishes are Jadoh, Nakham Bitchi, Pumaloi, Tung-rymbai— pickled bamboo shoots.
