TURA, Jan 6: Keen anglers, tourists and nature lovers are flocking to the remote Siju-Rewak region of South Garo Hills to witness as well as take part in what is famously known as the annual community fishing of the Attong sub-tribe of the Garos, which began on Wednesday, when dozens of young able-bodied men and women converged on sections of the Simsang river, left untouched for an entire year and thriving with a variety of local fish species, for the age-old tradition of celebration of the beginning of the new year.
Locally known in the Attong dialect as ‘Wari Bila’ or community fishing in a Wari or water body, the entire community of the village takes part in the fishing for which preparations take place several days ahead.
The event displays close bonding among the members of the tribe, who not only partake in the event together, but also share the spoils equally.
Vast stretches of the Simsang river, which flows through Siju and Rewak, are left untouched the whole year to allow the local fish population to thrive.
“The entire Siju-Rewak area is a tourism potential area and we have abundant fresh water sources teeming with a variety of rare fish species. Another Wari, famously known as Alokpang Bobra Wari, will be opened this coming week. We are expecting a lot of visitors including elected legislators from the Garo Hills,” said Rakkam A Sangma, the current MLA of Siju-Rewak constituency in South Garo Hills.
Another fish area or Wari, named after Meghalaya’s first chief minister who hailed from the region Late Captain Williamson Sangma, known as Captain Wari, will also be opened up for the community fishing event in the weeks to come.
With construction on a major road project only recently having started to connect the region with Ranikor region in South West Khasi Hills, the tourism potential is expected to jump leaps and bounds in the next few years.
