Shillong, Nov 12: Shyntor Festival 2025: an eco-cultural celebration will be held from December 11–13 at Shyntor Bulia village in Ri-Bhoi.
The event is organised by the Rongjeng Welfare Foundation (RWF) in collaboration with Dorbar Shnong Shyntor and its partners – Online Tent Service Centre and Jharna Foundation. The three-day festival will celebrate the living traditions of the Khasi community through music, culture, cuisine, and sustainable tourism — set amidst the tranquil flow of two rivers, the Umsiang and the Umsha, that run through the village.
A hidden gem
Located on the eastern side of Ri-Bhoi District, about 25 km from Nongpoh on the GS Road, Shyntor Bulia Village is home to about 450 residents across 65 households. Surrounded by rolling hills, lush forests, and the two rivers that give the festival its rhythm, Shyntor offers visitors a chance to step into the heartbeat of rural Meghalaya.
This December, the village will transform into a vibrant festival ground as around 200 visitors from across India and abroad will stay for three nights in eco-friendly alpine and camping tents and traditional bamboo huts managed by villagers. The experience will blend comfort with authenticity that will allow visitors to live and celebrate alongside the community.
With tickets now available across all major towns of Meghalaya and neighboring states, the organizers expect a large daily turnout as travelers, music lovers, and culture enthusiasts converge to experience the Northeast in its purest form.
Attractions like riverside trek/hike, forest trails and water fall in nearby village will add to the adventure, making Shyntor a destination for both explorers and culture-seekers.
Festival highlights
The Shyntor festival 2025 will feature sand animation, ventriloquism, story telling, music, culture and bon fire jam session.
The Shyntor Festival 2025 will also host Art Residency Program for seven days where artists from various parts of the country and Meghalaya will be exhibiting their art works during the festival.
Visitors can experience the region’s rich cultural heritage through handloom and bamboo crafts, weaving and art sale & exhibition, storytelling session, and cultural exchanges with community and also friendly football match.
Culinary highlights include homestyle tribal cuisines, live cooking demos, and community feasts featuring fresh local produce.
A festival with purpose
The Shyntor Festival is not only a platform to highlight and showcase the immense talent within Meghalaya
and the Northeast — it is also a means to raise funds for the development of villages.
Importantly, the event is not just a one-time celebration, but the beginning of a year-long series of iinterventions aimed at sustained village development and empowerment.
The initiative seeks to create a sustainable source of income for villagers, ensuring the continuous growth andprogress of the surrounding areas long after the festival concludes.
Government and Institutional Support
The organisers have received encouraging support from local authorities in Ri-Bhoi District.
The Shyntor Festival 2025 is a non-profit event, and any profits or savings from ticket sales will be
entirely reinvested in projects for the development and welfare of the villages.
Sustainability and community impact
Deeply rooted in responsible tourism and social commitment, the festival channels its proceeds toward infrastructure improvement, eco-facility development, and livelihood support for marginalised farmers.
Organized by Rongjeng Welfare Foundation (RWF), a registered non-profit organisation, the event focuses on working for sustainable
tourism, cultural preservation, and community-led development in Northeast India.
