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The
largest Jaintia market is located at
Jowai, the district headquarters, opposite the country Old Collectorate
Building and slightly older police station. It is better known as
Iawmusiang and like many other weekly market in the
Khasi and Jaintia
Hills, it is held on every eighth day. The Iawmusiang market derives
its name from the sacred stone within the market, which has been brought
to its present location from Nongbah, in ancient times. The sacred stone
continues to be venerated and believers regularly offer Puja to this
stone, especially before the annual Behdienkhlam festival.
The site of the temporary gallows set up for the execution of the
immortal Jaintia Martyr U Kiang Nangbah on 30th December 1862, now lies
within the Iawmusiang market place. It is said that it would be difficult
to find a Jaintia who has never once visited Iawmusiang. This reflects the
socio-economic importance of this large central market place of the
Jaintia Hills.