Kongthong is a calm and beautiful village nestled in a remote area of the Khasi Hills. It is located in Khat Ar Shong Laitkroh tehsil of East Khasi Hills district in Meghalaya. It is popularly known as the singing village because of “Jingrwai Lawnei” a lullaby which they create to call each other.
In Kongthong when a child is born the mother composes a song or a small tune which becomes the child’s official tune. They have their official names too but this tune is their identity in the village. All the villagers call each other by the tune assigned to them. Every tune is born with the birth of a child and stays with him through his life. A tune once assigned to a person is not repeat. These tunes are unique as they come straight from a mother’s heart for her new born child. Each tune is different from the other and represents different people. Each tune or JINGRWAI IAWBEI in Khasi.
Each tune traditionally has two versions – a smaller one and a longer one. The tune is easier to call friends or relatives when they are far away as the tune is unique to each individual.
