SHILLONG, May 10 : The Ambassador of France to India, Thierry Mathou in his maiden visit to Meghalaya, visited sacred groves, monoliths, and heritage village of Mawphlang, near Meghalaya’s capital in the East Khasi Hills district on Friday.
The Ambassador trekked for more than 3 kms and visited Mawphlang Sacred Grove in its entirety, where he was guided by the head of Lyngdoh clan of Hima Mawphlang, Tambor Lyngdoh Mawphlang.
“The Ambassador was very enthusiastic about learning the ethnographic (flora) composition of the sacred grove. The clan head explained, that the forest (Mawphlang sacred grove) is sanctified by deities who are the custodians who safeguard the forests, therefore immoral activities are not allowed to be carried out. The sacred groves also consist of ceremonial sites where rituals were carried out by ancient Khasi kings and the practice continues till date particularly on special occasions. The Sacred Groves have also attracted tourists and researchers alike, who come to explore and study the unique ecosystem,” an official said.
“I had the pleasure to visit the sacred forests. We have to learn from you, on how to protect the environment and biodiversity. This first visit is to better understand the state and see your needs and how we are going to interact,” the Ambassador said.
The Mawphlang Sacred Groves have been revered and protected by the Khasi community for centuries, offering a unique glimpse into the harmonious relationship with the environment and the natural world.
The Meghalaya government has implemented multiple initiatives in Mawphlang like development of heritage village, tourism infrastructures and organising Monolith Festival.
“The rise in tourist footfall to this destination has not only enriched the local economy but has also provided sustainable livelihood opportunities for the communities,” the official added.
Ambassador Mathou also visited the Mawphlang Dam accompanied by Public Health Engineering (PHE) officials, who informed him how Meghalaya’s rural water supply implementation has reached 77.15 per cent in household connectivity.
Earlier today, the French Ambassador had called on Governor Phagu Chauhan at the Raj Bhavan here, where the duo engaged in a wide-ranging discussion, exploring avenues to further strengthen the relationship between France and India, a Raj Bhavan statement said. (UNI)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
