Shillong’s gospel choirs: the Sunday sound that defined a city

On Sunday mornings, Shillong’s churches fill with a sound that has defined the city for a century: gospel choirs singing in four-part harmony, in Khasi and English.

The tradition, planted by Welsh missionaries, has grown into an industry of its own — choirs with recording contracts, YouTube followings and international tours.

Music schools now teach the discipline formally, but the heart remains the Sunday service.