Festival Dedicated to Insect Held in Meghalaya

Shillong, May 14 : A one-of-its-kind festival was organized in Meghalaya, dedicated to a peculiar insect called 'Niangtaser', with local football enthusiasts naming it 'Niang World Cup' as it surfaces every four years in Ri Bhoi district coinciding with the football world cup.

The day-long Niangtser festival was held for the first time by the Saiden Socio Cultural and Sport Club at Saiden, about 55 km from here, on Tuesday night.

Hundreds of people carrying lamps thronged the Lewsir forest and searched for the insect, which is of the Cicada family.

"People pick them and push them using a stick inside a mature hollow bamboo having one node. This prevents them from becoming fully mature. The insects are then cleaned, cooked and served as a delicacy," the club’s president R W Shylla said.

The insect comes out of the ground in large numbers and particularly at night time.