SARAS Fair draws large crowds, Ruga dance enthralls crowds
TURA: The much anticipated annual post harvest festival- 100 Drums Wangala Festival began at Asanang village of Rongram Block, 18 kms from Tura, on a colorful note with the launch of the Indigenous Games and the opening of the much anticipated Sara’s Fair to showcase exquisite products on handloom, handicrafts and organic food products brought forth by women self help groups from the nooks and corners of Garo Hills and as far as Jaintia Hills.
The three day festival will culminate in a grand finale on Saturday with the beating of 100 drums and dance of the maidens which will be witnessed by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma.
One of the main features of the inaugural programme on Thursday was the presentation of the post funeral ritual dance of the Rugas, a sub-tribe of the Garos from South Garo Hills.
The audience was left spellbound by the colorful Ruga and A’tong Chugan dance, which despite facing threat of cultural extinction, is still being diligently preserved by the Ruga tribe.
The Wangala is the most significant post harvest festival of the Garos generally held in the second week of November every year.
It is a Thanksgiving ceremony to Misi Saljong also known as Pattigipa Ra∙rongipa (The Great Giver) for having blessed the people with rich harvest of the season.
The Hundred Drums Wangala festival which was started in the year 1976 at Asanang, the Headquarters of Rongram Development Block near Tura has grown over the years under the patronage of the Government of Meghalaya and nurtured by the Festival organization.
As with every succesive 100 Drums Wangala festival, young Garo Matgriks or warriors came forward to prove their mettle in the Indigenous Games of Jakpong Pe∙a (traditional arm wrestling), Rongma Chilsusa∙a, Rongma Gosusa∙a or traditional shotput, Wa∙pong sika and An∙ding Oka battles of strength.
Other events of the festival including the Tug of War, Cultural Competitions, Rugala Chachat So∙a, Dani Doka and Rhythm of 100 Drums will take place tomorow and the final day.
Sara’s Fare helps promote SHG products: Organic products such as black pepper, tea and coffee and turmeric as well as beautifully engraved wood carvings and cane and bamboo items were hot items most sought after by the public during the start of the Saras Fare organised next to the Wangala festival field at Asanang.
Chief Executive Member of GHADC, Dipul Marak, while inaugurating the 100 Drums Wangala Festival and the Saras Fair commended the organisers of the festival and the Meghalaya State Rural Livelihood Society along with the district administration for giving much needed help and support for the womenfolk of the region by encouraging women SHGs.
“Our women are excellent in making and preparing pickles, traditional food items including weaving, dress making among others. The organic turmeric from our State is so good that it is now being exported to other countries,” said Dipul Marak as he urged the people of the region to buy and use local products which besides being organic would also go a long way in helping and encouraging the local entrepreneurs to sell their products.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Ram Singh informed that Saras Fair which is being organised by the Meghalaya State Rural Livelihood Society (MSRLS) is a programme under the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India to alleviate poverty and ensure financial inclusion and livelihood support to Self Help Groups of the area. He also said that the Fair provides a platform for the rural artisans to sell their produce and thereby promote the livelihood activities of the Self Help Groups of the region.