Shillong, Dec. 27: Selsella today witnessed one of the biggest ever Songkristan or community Christmas dances, an exclusive and a unique way of celebrating Christmas in the Garo hills.

People from over 30 villages located in and around Selsella in West Garo Hills participated in the event along with chief minister Mukul Sangma, power minister Clement Marak, Meghalaya resource mobilisation and employment generation council chairperson Dikkanchi D. Shira, district officials and church leaders. The programme was organised by the United Movement for Youth (UMY).

In his speech, Sangma said Songkristan, which is unique to this part of the world, needs to be preserved and promoted.

Lauding the UMY for its efforts, he said the group had made a wonderful and positive beginning, and called upon them to organise the event on a grander scale next year.

He also emphasised the need to analyse the different abilities and talents of the youth and said various programmes of the government were meant to facilitate the youths to becoming self-reliant and contribute to society.

Saying that his government’s endeavour was on promoting sports to enable the young boys and girls to unleash their talent, Sangma said the government has sanctioned Rs 78 crore for all 39 rural blocks for development of sports infrastructure.

He also said there were many good footballers in the area and promised the gathering that funds would be sanctioned soon for laying of an artificial football turf in Selsella.

Moreover, he urged the youth to look out for alternative means of livelihood beyond government jobs and avail of the opportunities being given to them.

Further, Sangma informed the gathering that construction of National Highway-27(D) through Selsella has just been approved.

“But in order to really develop our economy, we all have to be agriculturists and horticulturists ultimately,” he said while urging the people of the area to make use of the vast stretches of land available for all kinds of farming activities.