West Jaintia Hills District is one of the 12 (twelve) districts of the state of Meghalaya. With the bifurcation of the erstwhile Jaintia Hills District into East and West Jaintia Hills District, West Jaintia Hills District came into existence on 31st July 2012 with its Head Quarter in Jowai.
Jowai is the host of all the heads of important governmental offices and establishments, educational institutions, hospitals, banking institutions, etc.
Area
The total area of the district is 1693 Sq.Kms. The District comprises of 1 (one) Civil Sub Division Viz Amlarem Sub Division Viz Amlarem Civil sub-Division and 3 (three) community and rural Development Blocks viz. Amlarem C&RD Block, Laskein C&RD Block and Thadlaskein C&RD Block with the following boundaries
- North: → Assam
- South: → Bangladesh and East Jaintia Hills District
- East: → Assam
- West: → East Khasi Hills District
Population
The district has a total population of 2,70,352 of which 1,34,406 are males and 1,35,946 are females. The density of population is 159.69 per sq.km. The following table shows the block wise area and population of West Jaintia Hills District
| Name of the block | Area (sq.km) | Population | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | Female | Total Population | Population Density | Amlarem | 398.00 | 21750 | 21802 | 43552 | 109.43 |
| Laskein | 390.40 | 45182 | 44783 | 89965 | 230.44 |
| Thadlaskein | 896.60 | 53761 | 54654 | 108415 | 120.92 |
| Jowai (Urban) | 8.00 | 13713 | 14707 |
28420 | 3552.50 |
| Total | 1693.00 | 134406 | 135946 | 270352 | 159.69 |
Festival
Behdiengkhlam : this is the most important festival of the jaintias and is celebrated after the sowing is done. It is celebrated annually at jowai, ialong, mukhla, thadmuthlong and chyrmang usually at the month of July-august. It is a popular and colourful festival. Men only, young and old, take part in the dancing but have an important role to play at home in offering sacrificial food to the spirit of the ancestors. They invoke their aid and intercession that life here below will be good and worthy for the next one above. Men make a symbolic driving away of the evil spirits which cause sickness and misery, by beating the roof of every house with bamboo poles. This festival is also an invocation to god seeking his blessings for a good harvest.
Number of sub-divisions/police sub-divisions/ circles with name
The District comprises of 1 (one) Civil Sub Division Viz Amlarem Sub Division Viz Amlarem Civil sub-Division and 3 (three) community and rural Development Blocks viz. Amlarem C&RD Block, Laskein C&RD Block and Thadlaskein C&RD Block with the following boundaries :-
- North: → Assam
- South: → Bangladesh and East Jaintia Hills District
- East: → Assam
- West: → East Khasi Hills District