Explore Meghalaya Part 3 – Festivals of Meghalaya

Smart Village Movement, April 21, 2022

Navigating Online Dating Safety in Canada

In today’s digital age, online dating has become a popular way to meet new people and potentially find love. With the convenience and accessibility it offers, more and more Canadians are turning to online dating platforms to connect with others. However, as with any form of social interaction, it is important to prioritize safety and take necessary precautions. In this article, we will explore some essential tips for navigating online dating safety in Canada.

Choose a Reputable Dating Site

The first step in ensuring your online dating safety is to choose a reputable dating site. With numerous platforms available, it is crucial to select one that prioritizes user safety and privacy. LoveZoid (link: https://lovezoid.com/ca/) is a trusted and popular online dating site in Canada that provides a secure environment for users to connect.

When selecting a dating site, look for features such as strict user verification processes, secure messaging systems, and privacy settings. These elements help to minimize the risk of encountering fake profiles or potential scammers.

Create a Strong and Unique Password

Once you have chosen a dating site, it is essential to create a strong and unique password for your account. Avoid using common or easily guessable passwords, such as your birthdate or “123456.” Instead, opt for a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. This will make it more challenging for hackers to access your account.

Protect Your Personal Information

When engaging in online dating, it is crucial to protect your personal information. Avoid sharing sensitive details, such as your home address, phone number, or financial information, with anyone you have just met online. Remember, scammers may try to extract personal information for malicious purposes.

Additionally, be cautious when sharing personal photos. Consider using the site’s private messaging feature to share photos rather than posting them publicly on your profile. This helps to maintain control over who has access to your images.

Take Your Time and Be Cautious

While it can be exciting to meet new people online, it is important to take your time and be cautious. Avoid rushing into a relationship or sharing too much personal information too soon. Building trust takes time, so be patient and allow the relationship to develop gradually.

If someone you meet online seems too good to be true, trust your instincts. Look out for red flags such as inconsistent information, overly flattering messages, or requests for money. If something feels off, it is better to err on the side of caution and end communication with that person.

Meet in a Public Place

If you decide to meet someone in person from an online dating site, always choose a public place for your first meeting. This provides a safer environment and allows you to assess the person’s character and intentions. Inform a friend or family member about your plans and arrange to check in with them after the meeting.

When meeting someone for the first time, it is advisable to arrange your transportation. Avoid accepting rides from the person you are meeting until you have established a level of trust. Additionally, ensure that your mobile phone is fully charged and easily accessible during the meeting.

Trust Your Gut

One of the most important aspects of online dating safety is trusting your gut instincts. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. Pay attention to any feelings of discomfort or unease and take them seriously. Your intuition can be a powerful tool in navigating the online dating world safely.

In conclusion, online dating can be an exciting and rewarding experience, but safety should always be a top priority. By choosing a reputable dating site, creating a strong password, protecting your personal information, taking your time, meeting in public places, and trusting your gut instincts, you can navigate the online dating world with confidence. Remember, LoveZoid (link: https://lovezoid.com/ca/) is a trusted platform that prioritizes user safety in Canada. Happy dating!

Regia Kom for Smart Village Movement in Alliance with Berkeley Haas

Most of the popular Meghalayan festivals are those connected with agricultural activities, their human nature bond, and their thanksgiving ceremony to the deities. Like the Hindus, the Garos used to show reverence to the ancestors by offering food to the departed souls and by the erection of memorial stones, the festivals of Meghalaya are diverse in nature. The three tribes of Meghalaya, the Garo, Khasi, and Jaintia tribe celebrate very culturally rich, traditional as well as modern festivals. Let’s take you through some of the popular festivals celebrated in the state of Meghalaya.

Wangala Festival

The biggest among the Garo festivals is the ‘Wangala’ usually celebrated in the month of October-November, is a celebration of thanksgiving after harvest in which Misi-Saljong, the deity who provides mankind with nature’s bounties and ensures their prosperity, is honored. A huge feast and rice beer are prepared well in advance and the highlight of the celebrations is the colorful Wangala dance in which men and women take part in their best traditional attires. Lines are formed by males and females separately and dance to the rhythmic beat of drums and gongs and blowing of horns by the males.

Picture Credit: dmfolkstudio

Shad Suk Mynsiem Festival

Shad Suk Mynsiem is the most important festival of the Khasi Clans of Meghalaya celebrated by the Jaintia and Garo Clans of Meghalaya. This festival is celebrated in April and is also known as the ‘Move of cheerful hearts’. This is a three-day festival and is popularly known as the ‘Shad Phur’. This festival is celebrated primarily in the Khasi Hills close to Shillong.

Picture Credit: specialholidays.com

Nongkrem Festival

The Nongkrem Festival, one of pomp and gaiety is also celebrated among the Khasis. It is a thanksgiving festival that is celebrated for about 5 days in the month of October or November. Young women are seen to be performing the Shad Kynthei, and the men would circle them while performing the Shad Mystieh, symbolizing male power and protection over the women.Visitors from all over the world come here to witness the Khasi men and women performing the traditional dance in this festival.

Picture Credit: Adotrip

Behdienkhlam Festival

Behdiemkhlam festival of Meghalaya is popularly celebrated by the Jaintia or Pnar people of the Niamtre religion in the month of July for three days. This festival is the most important dance festival among the Jaintia tribe and is celebrated before the seed sowing season. This festival is symbolic of driving away from the evil spirit, plague, or diseases like cholera by beating the roof of every house with bamboo poles. A series of ceremonies and rituals are performed by the priest, along with the beating of drums and flute. Men play the drums and flutes, and women watch the men perform dressed in traditional attire with gold ornaments.

The main attraction of the festival is the chosen tree trunk which is chosen thoughtfully and is believed to bring good luck to anybody who touches it. For its great crowd and bright events, the festival gathers a lot of visitors every year.

Picture Credit: meghalaya.gov.in

Chad Sukra

Chad Sukra is celebrated by the Jaintia Tribes in Meghalaya once every year before the sowing season. It is believed to perform certain prayers and rituals before the sowing season in order to have a prosperous harvest. It is one of the most significant occasions for the Niamtre religion. Women and men come together in their traditional outfits with heavy gold ornaments to perform the rituals with their traditional music and dance. This festival is one of a kind and a lot of visitors come to witness this festival from far places.

Picture Credit : hoblist.com

Cherry Blossom Festival

Speaking of Cherry Blossom Festival, Japan is the first place to strike our minds, but let us introduce you to the Cherry Blossom Festival in Meghalaya, India. Celebrated in the month of November every year, Cherry Blossom Festival is one of the most sought-after festivals in India. Shillong, the capital and the main city of Meghalaya state is seen with beautiful pink cherry blossom trees looking so graceful and pleasant. Trees are decorated with lights that look magical at night. The festival is filled with fun and entertainment, there are several music gigs, food, and craft stalls, beauty pageants, etc to keep you occupied throughout the time you are there. Amazingly you also get to see some glimpse of Korean culture at the festival in the form of dishes, music, and clothes which are known to be quite popular among the youth in the region.

Picture Credit: photographyte

Autumn Festival

Autumn Festival is a well-known modern-day festival celebrated in the month of October in Meghalaya, India. This festival is mainly celebrated to mark the onset of the autumn season. One can see the rich local culture as well as other cultures being showcased at this festival. The locals and the tourist enjoy several events like dance and music performances, display of local craftsmanship, cuisines, tasting of local wine, sports events, and kite flying competitions. This festival encourages the people to showcase their rich culture and budding entrepreneurs and businesses to sell and market their products in the festival.

Picture Credit: Indiatours.com

Strawberry Festival

Strawberry Festival is celebrated in the state of Meghalaya to primarily promote the farming of strawberry fruit in the state. The Government of Meghalaya has been encouraging the cultivation of strawberries among the farmers as the state has a conducive climate to produce good strawberries. This festival is perfect for families to enjoy and learn more about strawberry farming while supporting the state’s economic development by contributing to the growth of strawberry farmers. This festival happens in the month of February.

Picture Credit : hellotravel.com

Bacardi NH7 Weekender Festival

Bacardi NH7 Weekender is the festival that is most awaited on the list of music lovers. This magnetic event which happens in October-November is a three days affair that draws audiences from multiple destinations to experience the astonishing line-up featuring top musicians, and indie bands, both Indian and international. Every year the flagship event is staged in Pune and is hosted in many other cities, out of which Meghalaya edition turns out to be the most special one considering the popularity of music culture in this region and the natural breathtaking landscape of Meghalaya just adds all the feel every music lover needs.

Picture Credit: Jishnu Chakraborty

While it’s always a great time to visit beautiful Meghalaya, visiting at the time of the festivals of Meghalaya is even more special. Are you interested in visiting Meghalaya during the festive seasons? Contact these travel resources :

Find more options on Meghalaya Tourism