Shillong, September 18: A group of journalists from Uttar Pradesh, visiting Meghalaya as part of a Press Tour organised by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Government of India, on Friday visited Siej village in East Khasi Hills to experience the state’s unique Living Root Bridge tradition.
During the visit, the media delegation interacted with Padma Shri awardee Hally War, who guided them to the Umkhar Living Root Bridge and explained the traditional technique used by Khasi communities to create the living structures.
War explained that the aerial roots of the rubber fig tree, or Ficus elastica, are carefully guided and nurtured over several years until they become strong enough to form functional bridges across streams and difficult terrain. He also shared that he learnt the indigenous practice from his father and grandfather and has spent several decades preserving the knowledge and passing it on to younger generations.
Accompanied by War, the journalists walked to the Umkhar Living Root Bridge and observed the structure in its natural surroundings. Members of the delegation said the experience gave them a deeper understanding of the close relationship between Khasi communities, nature and indigenous knowledge systems. The visiting journalists also praised the ingenuity and sustainability of the Living Root Bridge tradition, describing it as an example of how communities have worked in harmony with the natural environment for generations.
They felicitated War in recognition of his decades-long contribution towards preserving the traditional practice and congratulated him on being conferred the Padma Shri in 2026. Representatives of the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), Government of Meghalaya, accompanied the delegation during the visit.
The visit was part of the PIB Press Tour aimed at providing journalists with first-hand exposure to Meghalaya’s cultural heritage, indigenous knowledge, environment and community-based tourism initiatives.
