Travel Guide

Nongkrem Dance Festival 2026: Smit, Shillong Dates and Guide

Nongkrem Dance 2026 began at Smit on 31 Oct. See reported dates, past years, daily rites, dances, how to reach Smit from Guwahati and what to plan for 2027.

Ayush Pandey November 6, 2026 · 14 min read

Nongkrem Dance Festival 2026: Smit, Shillong Dates and Guide

The Nongkrem Dance Festival is the yearly thanksgiving festival of the Khasi people, held at Smit near Shillong in Meghalaya by the Hima Khyrim, the traditional Khasi state led by the Syiem. It combines ritual, goat offerings and a dance in which unmarried girls and young men perform in silk, coral and gold. This guide gives the 2026 dates as reported, the dates of earlier years, what happens each day, how to reach Smit from Guwahati and Shillong, and how to plan for the next edition. We checked government pages, news reports and tour sites up to 6 November 2026, and we mark every figure where sources disagree.

Quick Answer: Nongkrem Dance Festival 2026

The 2026 Nongkrem festival has already started. Shillong Today reports that the observances began at Smit on 31 October, with Pomblang Iewduh on 1 November. A Shillong Times headline lists the dance on 1 and 2 November. The festival runs about five days and is held in October or November. The next dates are not yet announced.

Item	Detail	Status
2026 start	31 October 2026	Shillong Today, 1 Nov 2026
Pomblang Iewduh	1 November 2026	Shillong Today
Dance days	1 and 2 November	Shillong Times headline of 29 Sep 2026. We could not open the full article
Closing day	Not found	We found no closing report for 2026
Next edition	Late Oct or Nov 2027, date not announced	Dates are set by Hima Khyrim
Venue	Iing Sad, Smit, East Khasi Hills	Government and news pages
Entry	No fee is mentioned in any official source we checked	Confirm locally

Nongkrem 2026 Dates: What Is Reported

Shillong Today, in a report published on 1 November 2026, says the annual Pomblang Syiem, also called the Nongkrem Dance, began at Smit on 31 October. The Khyrim Hima started with prayers, offerings, ceremonial sacrifices and customary dances. On 1 November the rites moved to the Iingsad, the ceremonial house, and a procession went to the sacred hill, Lum Pomblang Iewduh. A first ceremonial goat, the Lang Nyngkong, was sacrificed by a Duhalia, followed by dances at the site.

The Shillong Times ran a headline on 29 September 2026, "Nongkrem Dance at Smit on Nov 1 and 2". We could not open the article, so we cite only the headline. It suggests that the public dance days were 1 and 2 November, and that the date was announced about a month ahead. We did not find a report that gives the closing day.

If you are reading this in early November, ask the Hima Khyrim office or a Shillong hotel before you drive to Smit, because the last public rites may be over.

Nongkrem Dates in Earlier Years

The festival does not fall on a fixed Gregorian date. Reports across the years show a window from the end of October to the middle of November.

Year	What the report says	Source
2019	Began Wed 6 Nov and ended Thu 7 Nov (a two-day account)	NE Now
2021	Wed 10 Nov was day three and Fri 12 Nov was the main event (our reading of the weekdays)	EastMojo, Sentinel
2022	Concluded on 7 Nov	OhMeghalaya
2023	Reported on 2 Nov, with a Thursday Pomblang and a Friday final day	Hub Network
2024	Grand finale on 12 Nov (from the date of a Gazette notice)	Syllad
2025	Concluded on 7 Nov, with the festival under way on 6 Nov	Hub Network, Prasar Bharati bulletin
2026	Began 31 Oct, Pomblang Iewduh 1 Nov	Shillong Today

None of these sources explains how the Hima Khyrim chooses the days, and we do not claim a rule. What we can say is that the start has fallen between 31 October and about 8 November in the years above, and that the dates are announced shortly before the festival.

What Is the Nongkrem Dance?

The Meghalaya government portal calls it a five-day religious festival of the Khasis, held to honour the goddess Ka Blei Synshar for a good harvest and the prosperity of the people. It is led by the Syiem of Khyrim and the high priest. The festival is also known as Pomblang, Pomblang Syiem or Pomblang Iewduh, after the central goat offering.

The Meghalayan newspaper says the festival traces back to the founding of the Shillong kingdom, Hima Shillong, and that the headquarters of the Syiem moved to Smit in 1876, with the dance moving with it even though the old name stuck. The Borderlens report adds that the Hima Syllong split into Hima Mylliem and Hima Khyrim, and that only five of the six Raids of Khyrim take part in the sacred circle. These are historical accounts from news features, and we report them as such.

The government portal, Hub Network and Sentinel mention Lei Shyllong, the god of Shillong Peak, as the one to whom the Pomblang goat is offered, alongside ancestors of the ruling clan. Sources therefore name both Ka Blei Synshar and Lei Shyllong, and we leave the explanation to the priests and Khasi scholars.

The Days of the Festival

The names of the days come from Borderlens, which described the 2025 festival, and from Shillong Today for 2026. Exact order and which days are public can change, so treat this as a guide.

Day or rite	What happens	Public access
Rynghep days	Grass is delivered by the Raids and the thatching of the Iingsad roof begins, village by village	Borderlens
Pomtiah	Evening rites inside the Iingsad until midnight, with a shared meal of khapiah	Inside the house, per Shillong Today
Umni	Further rituals and a ceremonial meal inside the Iingsad	Shillong Today says these rites are not open to the public
Iewduh (Pomblang Iewduh)	Procession to Lum Pomblang, prayers, the first goat sacrifice, reading of entrails, Shad Mastieh warrior dance	The procession and the dance at the hill
Lyngka	Thanksgiving dance in the courtyard, goat offerings from the Raids, a ritual called Bujai Blang in the early hours, and evening prayers with ceremonial gunshots	Courtyard dances
Closing days	Borderlens lists drum rites, the Syiem's prayers for the twelve Sla and a final Shad Nongkrem by young dancers at Lad Smit	Confirm locally

Dances, Dress and Music

Shad Kynthei is the women's dance and Shad Shynrang is the men's dance, according to Borderlens.
Shad Mastieh is the warrior dance in which men hold a sword in the right hand and a white yak-hair whisk in the left, as reported by the Meghalaya portal and Sentinel.
Music is played on drums (ksing) and tangmuri pipes, according to the same reports.
Dancers are unmarried girls and young men, according to Hub Network and The Meghalayan.
Dress is silk with coral and gold, according to Borderlens. Windhorse Tours, a tour operator, mentions gold ornaments.

In 2023 Hub Network counted 288 dancers (118 men and 170 maidens). That is one year's count and we do not treat it as a standard figure.

Smit: The Venue

Smit is the headquarters of Hima Khyrim, in East Khasi Hills. The main building is the Iing Sad, a thatched royal house that the Indian culture portal says is made without metal. The courtyard in front is the dancing ground, and the sacred hill Lum Pomblang is nearby. Distances to Shillong differ by source: the Meghalaya government portal says about 11 km, several news reports and Meghalaya Tourism say about 15 km, and the Indian culture portal says about 20 km. We could not find one measured figure, so allow about 30 to 45 minutes from the city.

The Meghalaya government inaugurated new cultural and tourism facilities at Lum Pomblang and Madan Syiem on 10 December 2025, with the Chief Minister and the Syiem of Hima Khyrim present, according to Borderlens. In 2022 the Chief Minister had announced Rs 2 crore for the dance arena. The reports do not give visitor figures.

How to Reach Smit

From	Distance reported	Note
Shillong	About 11 to 20 km	Sources differ. The Indian culture portal says 20 km
Umroi Airport	About 45 km	Indian culture portal
Guwahati Railway Station	About 125 km	Indian culture portal. Guwahati is the main railway station for travel to Meghalaya

The Indian culture portal advises flying to Umroi Airport or taking a train to Guwahati, then continuing by road. Roads in the hills can be slow in the early hours and late evening, so ask your driver to allow extra time. Our airport pickup, railway pickup, cab and intercity cab services can arrange the transfer.

Visitor Tips

These are our practical suggestions, not rules from the Hima. Follow the instructions of the organisers on the day.

Treat the rites as a religious event. Do not enter the Iingsad or any area marked closed.
Ask before you photograph priests, elders or the Syiem, and avoid flash during the Pomblang.
Dress modestly and wear shoes you can walk in on grass and slopes.
Carry warm layers and a rain cover, because weather in the hills in November can change quickly.
Keep small cash for food stalls, since a fair with handicrafts and food is reported around the festival.
Do not buy a pass from a stranger. No official source we checked mentions an entry fee or pass.

Hub Network reported that the 2025 festival included a fair with local handicrafts and food, and that domestic and foreign tourists attended.

Plan for the Next Edition

Watch for the announcement. In 2026 the Shillong Times headline appeared on 29 September.
Book Shillong or Guwahati rooms as soon as the dates are out. We have no occupancy data, so we cannot say how early rooms fill.
Plan to arrive a day early and keep a spare day, because rites and public days can shift.
Combine Smit with other Meghalaya stops. Our Wangala Festival guide covers the Garo hundred drums festival in the same month.
Send us your dates early so we can plan the road from Guwahati.

For Visitors from Abroad and Other States

Meghalaya is a state of India and the festival is open to visitors, but rules for restricted areas and registration can change. Check current entry rules with the state government or your embassy before you travel. Fly to Guwahati or Umroi, and book the road transfer in advance. If you come from Ayodhya or Uttar Pradesh, our custom package can link the Northeast with other stops.

Plan Your Meghalaya Trip with Your Travel Partner

Your Travel Partner is a travel company based in Ayodhya that arranges trips across India and abroad. We plan the road, the stay and the timing around a festival, for visitors from every state and from other countries.

Airport or railway pickup in Guwahati: airport and railway.
Road transfers to Shillong and Smit: cab and intercity cab.
Rooms: hotel booking.
A Northeast trip with other stops: custom package.
Send your dates, city and group size on WhatsApp or the enquiry form.

We do not sell festival tickets or passes. See the packages page, our reviews, about us and the cancellation policy.

Common Mistakes

Assuming the festival is on a fixed date each year. It moves between late October and mid November.
Arriving after the public days and finding only closed rites.
Photographing inside areas that are closed or without asking.
Trusting one distance figure for Smit. Sources range from 11 to 20 km.
Paying a stranger for a pass that no official source mentions.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Nongkrem Dance Festival 2026?

It began at Smit on 31 October 2026, with Pomblang Iewduh on 1 November, according to Shillong Today. A Shillong Times headline lists the dance on 1 and 2 November.

Is the Nongkrem festival over for 2026?

Probably, or nearly. It runs about five days and began on 31 October. We found no closing report, so check locally.

When is Nongkrem 2027?

Not announced. Past years show a start between 31 October and early November, and the date is set by the Hima Khyrim.

Where is the Nongkrem Dance held?

At Smit, East Khasi Hills, in the courtyard of the Iing Sad, the Syiem's house, and at the sacred hill Lum Pomblang.

How far is Smit from Shillong?

Sources differ, from about 11 km to about 20 km. Allow 30 to 45 minutes by road.

How many days does Nongkrem last?

About five days, according to the Meghalaya government portal, with rites first and dances later.

Who organises the Nongkrem Dance?

The Hima Khyrim, led by the Syiem of Khyrim and the high priest.

Whom is the festival dedicated to?

Sources name the goddess Ka Blei Synshar and also describe an offering to Lei Shyllong, the god of Shillong Peak.

What is Pomblang?

The goat offering at the heart of the festival, performed by the Syiem and the high priest.

What is Shad Mastieh?

The warrior dance in which men hold a sword and a white yak-hair whisk.

Who can dance at Nongkrem?

Unmarried girls and young men, according to Hub Network and The Meghalayan.

Is there an entry fee or a pass?

No official source we checked mentions one. Do not pay anyone who sells a pass.

Can tourists attend?

Yes. Hub Network reported domestic and foreign tourists in 2025. Some rites inside the Iingsad are not open to the public.

How do I reach Smit from Guwahati?

By road. The Indian culture portal gives about 45 km from Umroi Airport and about 125 km from Guwahati Railway Station.

Can Your Travel Partner arrange my Meghalaya trip?

Yes. We arrange pickups, cabs and hotels. We do not sell festival tickets or passes.

Conclusion

The Nongkrem festival at Smit began on 31 October 2026, and the main rites fell on 1 and 2 November. The next date is not yet announced, so watch for the Shillong Times and Hima Khyrim notices around late September. Plan the road from Guwahati, treat the rites with respect and avoid paying for passes. For cabs, hotels and a Meghalaya plan, message us on WhatsApp.