TURA: One of the claimants to the Nokmaship of Asananggre Akingland where the annual 100 drums Wangala Festival takes has expressed her opposition to the proposed holding of the Wangala Festival in the area warning that safety and security of the people is paramount in view of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Earlier, the organizers had announced that unlike previous years, the festival would be scaled down with no large gathering and certain rituals like Sa’sat So’a, Rugala etc only would be performed. They also informed that the festival would not involve 100 drums but only the winner and runners up troupe from the previous year would take part.
Rosalline Ch Marak issued a statement on Monday condemning the Hundred Drums Wangala Festival Committee for taking the decision to hold the festival amidst the pandemic.
“Rongram market and its surrounding localities were recently declared a Containment Zone while an employee of Asanang PHC contracted the virus due to which the health centre was closed for some days to facilitate sanitization. With this backdrop mass gathering including conducting cultural programmes will in no way be allowed to ensure safety and security of the people under my A’king,” Marak said.
