(The twin sisters Ka Ngot and Ka Iam. Source)
- Ka Ngot and Ka Iam were the beautiful and lively twin daughters of the god of Shillong
- They weren't happy if separated for long
- One day, at the top of Shillong mountain, they challenged each other to a race the woody plains of Sylhet down below
- Ka Ngot was the more timid one, Ka Iam was the more fearless one
- Ka Iam was very confident and boasted she was going to win the race
- At the start of the race, they both transformed into rivers
- Ka Ngot traveling safer but longer paths went slowly. When she eventually reached Sylhet, she couldn't find her sister there. Then she went to nearby areas Chhatak and Dewara but still no sign. She went back for her sister and took a long curve in the process. The Khasis living on top of the hill who saw the river called that part "Rupatylli," meaning a silver necklace
- Ka Iam, trying to get down the hill as fast as possible, took the shortest route which was toward Shella. This path was rough and included large rocks. Once she reached Shella she could see that her sister reached Sylhet before her. She was humiliated, and in hoping to hide her defeat, she divided herself into 5 streams, entering the plains and joining Ka Ngot
- These rivers are now known as river Ngot and river Iam
- Since Ka Ngot won the race she is given more praise as a goddess than her sister, and when some people want to cross Ngot they first pay their respects to Ka Ngot, the one who won the great race
Bibliography
The Goddesses Ka Ngot and Ka Iam by Mrs. K. U. Rafy
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