42nd Hundred Drums Wangala Festival concludes

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaNovember 9, 2019

TURA:  The rhythm of the Hundred Drums Wangala festival touch the zenith on the concluding day as the beat of a 100 drums reverberated across the Asanang Hills witnessed by record number of people on Saturday, third and final day of the celebrations.

Addressing the gathering on the occasion as Chief Guest, Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, expressed his appreciation to the wangala committee members especially the pioneers of the wangala committee for their endeavour and also for conceptualizing the idea to preserve the rich culture and traditions of the Garos through this festival and for holding and making the event happen successfully every year. Stating that there is a need to protect and preserve the identity and culture of the Garos, he said that it is the dream of Late P A Sangma to have a tribal research centre in the state and for which the tribal research institute have been set up in the district recently.

Further, informing that on his four day trip to Bangladesh he met the Prime Minister and Trade and Commerce Minister of Bangladesh, in order to propagate the objective of Act East Policy to promote trade and business opportunities between these two countries where people residing in the border areas will be benefitted mostly. He also informed that he met the A∙chik Society in Bangladesh and said that there are many A∙chik people living in Bangladesh and said that planning is on as how to exchange the difference in cultural aspects of the people.

Moreover, he said that the Government of Meghalaya in its endeavour to continue to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the Garos, such festivals would be promoted to greater heights which would make everyone proud of and added that the result of the hard work of the waangala committee can be seen from the event we witness today.

Earlier, while welcoming the gathering the Chairman of the Wangala Committee L R Ch Momin highlighted the significance of the festival and the need to preserve the traditions of the Garos and informed that the committee has decided to make the age old popular folk song “Dimdim Dimchong Dachichong” which was composed by Late Millickson K Sangma as the Wangala Anthem and is being sung every day of the festival.

With each passing year, the committee is making efforts to bring in the essence of Wangala festival by creating more of a natural and traditional set up like use of traditional adornments with lau pongs or dried gourds and natural thatches in the entire setting.

It may be mentioned that the 100 Drums Wangala is the post harvest festival of the Garos, consisting of various thanksgiving rituals followed with merrymaking, music and dance. Apart from the usual dancing contingents, participation by different dance troupes from North Garo Hills added more color and grandeur to the festival this year.

Tourist from far and beyond including Netherlands, Brazil, Greece, France, USA, UK and Maharastra, New Delhi, Bihar and Assam in India came to witness the wangala festival and enrich themselves with rituals called Rugala which is performed a day ahead of the wangala by the Nokma (A Village Chief) in which the offering of the first hand special rice-beer along with cooked rice and vegetables are given to Misi Saljong, the Giver and Sa∙sat So∙a ceremony or burning of the incense at the pillar of his house performed on the next day to mark the beginning of week long Wangala festival.

The ten dance contingent who participated in the competition were Sadolbra, Selbalgre, Sasatgre, Rohonpara, Tekmanpara from South West Garo Hills, Halua from Resubelpara, Gondenggre, Dalbengre, Rakdikgre and Chokpot. The winner of this year’s wangala competition is Sadolbra followed by Gondenggre and Dalbengre dance troupes.

Earlier during the festival, the Chief Guest and other dignitaries handed over the cheque of Rs. 25 lakhs to the Wangala Committee members.

Adviser to the Chief Minister, Government of Meghalaya, Thomas A Sangma, Meghalaya Legislative Assembly members F C A Sangma, Benedic R Marak, Lazarus Sangma, Brening Sangma, Principal Secretary, Agriculture, Government of Meghalaya Shakeel Ahmed, Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills Ram Singh, Members of Wangla Committee and host of dignitaries attended the festival.