Khasi Students Union (KSU) activists on Monday shut down few banks in the Shillong for working on the last day of Ka Shad Suk Mynsiem, a festival celebrated by the Khasi community every year.
The Meghalaya government used to declare holiday on the last day of the festival.
Ka Shad Suk Mynsiem or ‘Dance of the Happy Hearts’ is an annual spring dance to give thanks to the Almighty for his blessings and celebrate harvesting and sowing.
The traditional dance was organized at Weiking Ground, Jaïaw here for three days, where unmarried males and females participated in the dance, and witnessed by thousands of people from various parts of Khasi and Jaiñtia besides tourists.
According to organizers, this year, which marked the 107th year of the festival, was participated by around a thousand dancers both males and females.
Inclement weather and heavy rain spoiled the festival in the afternoon, but it did not dampen the festive fervour and spirit of the participants and people who came to be part of the festival.
Earlier during the day, KSU activists visited various banks in the city after knowing that some banks were functioning despite being a holiday, on account of the festival.
According to the KSU, its members went and shut down banks for functioning on the occasions which include SBI, HDFC, Axis, ICICI, Bajaj Allianz, Meghalaya Cooperative Bank, Canara, IndusInd.
The KSU said that on receiving information, police personnel also reached the spots and tried to stop its members from shutting down offices of the banks.
Meanwhile the KSU warned all offices that failed to respect special occasions and festivals observed by the Hynñiewtrep people.