Wangala celebrated with pomp & gaeity

SHILLONG, NOV 14: Chief minister Mukul Sangma called for upholding the traditional values, which used to be an inherent part of the Garo culture, while stating that the Garo cultural heritage should be promoted by showcasing tradition and way of life through annual festivals like Wangala.

Sangma was addressing the crowd who congregated at Asanang, near Tura while participating in the Hundred Drums Wangala Festival which ended peacefully on Saturday evening as the beats of hundred drums reverberated in the air.

Health and Family Welfare minister AL Hek, Sports and Youth Affairs minister Zenith Sangma, parliamentary secretaries, legislators, members of the District Council, local leaders and visitors including domestic and foreign tourists joined in the festivities on the last day of the festival.

“Agriculture is our culture and way of life and this festival proves that it is in our culture to give thanks to the Almighty Giver for the blessings bestowed on us”, Sangma said and lauded the organizers for giving the platform to keep the Garo culture and tradition alive and showcase it to the world. He, however, urged upon the organizers to take the festival to a bigger scale, to identify a bigger platform in collaboration with local landowners “because the crowd gravitating to the venue for the festival is getting bigger”, he said.

As such, Sangma also called for incorporating and organizing various events starting from Wangala season in November through December so as to enable the region to connect with the world and also showcase to the world the exclusive way of celebrating Christmas in Garo hills.

Sangma also highlighted the importance of indigenous food culture which is linked to nature and how it must be exploited for economic growth, adding that the organizers need to give capacity building to the food stall owners to promote Garo diverse food culture with modern science and technology. He also emphasized that knowledge linked to our traditional food system well documented.

Stating how militancy in the region was affecting the momentum of growth and development, Sangma said, “We need to revive and uphold our traditional laws and values, urging upon the parents to inculcate in their children such values like respect for elders, respect for the law, so that we can insulate our younger generations from negative forces.”

Earlier Sangma also handed over a cheque of Rs.15 lakh from the State Tourism Department to the President of the Hundred Drums Wangala Organizing Committee LK Marak, while the committee presented a traditional Garo drum to him as a token of appreciation.

It may be mentioned that the Hundred Drums Wangala dance is made of 100 male drummers and 100 female dancers led by their respective chieftains accompanied by the sound of gongs, horns, flutes, etc.

During Wangala a minimum of 10 drums are used in a village, but as many as 50 drums may be used in the bigger villages. There are at least 37 different kinds of beats performed, however in a Wangala dance, three types of beat are mainly used, that is “Dadia” or the lead played by the first man in the group, the second in line plays the “Rikkenga” and the rest of the group follow with “Ongripa”.

The day’s events began with the enactment of Chachat So’a ceremony or the burning of incense in the Nokma’s house which signify the beginning of the Wangala festival, followed by Wangala dance competition among the ten troupes drawn from various parts of Garo Hills and concluded with the main 100 Drums Wangala dance with many dignitaries and visitors joining along with the dancers.-By Our Reporter