TURA: The 36th Annual 100 Drums Wangala Festival of the Garos got underway with an indigenous cooking competition taking centre stage in the day long festivities of the first day on Thursday at Asanang, 18km from the district headquarters of West Garo Hills.
The Wangala is the most important post-harvest festival of the Garos. It is a thanksgiving ceremony to Misi Saljong or the Sun God also known as Patigipa-Ra·rongipa (the Great Giver) and goddess Me·enma Kiri Rokkime and has been traditionally celebrated by the Garos since time immemorial.
However, in the face of modern civilization and the impact of foreign cultures, the age-old customs and practices of the Garos could be seen fast disappearing. So in order to preserve and promote the cultural identity and the rich heritage, the Hundred Drums Wangala Festival is organized annually on modern lines.
A group of 30 dancers comprising of 10 male drummers and 10 corresponding female dancers along with the horn blower, gong beaters, flute player led by a leader called “Grikgipa” form a contingent and 10 such contingents together form the Hundred Drums Wangala. Thus, the first Hundred Drums Wangala Festival was organized on December 6-7, 1976.
Since then the Hundred Drums Wangala Festival has been organized annually on second Friday and Saturday of November with the support of the Government of Meghalaya and nurtured by the Hundred Drums Wangala Festival Committee.
The Wangala ensemble this year includes troupes drawn from different parts of Garo Hills, namely, Dengnapara and Sadolpara, Dadenggre Sub-Division, West Garo Hills, Chidaugre, Selbalgre, Danang Songma, Gondenggre and Rongdurigre, Rongram C & RD Block, West Garo Hills, Wanokdamgre, North Garo Hills, Rongsang Songma, Southwest Garo Hills and Rongsak, Samanda C & RD Block, East Garo Hills.
Indigenous Musical instrument playing competitions like Dama doka, Chigring doka and other traditional competitions like Ajea, Grika and Doroa followed by indigenous games and sports during the day were the highlights of the second day on Saturday followed by the Rugala ceremony performed in the evening.
On the third and final day the “Cha·chat So·a” or the incense burning ritual and Dani Doka will be performed followed by Wangala dance competition among the 10 contingents and conclude with main Hundred Drums Wangala dance.