In a first, 100 Drums Wangala Festival celebrated in Assam

SHILLONG, Nov 26: The 100 Drums Wangala Festival, the post-harvest festival of Garos that is celebrated in Meghalaya every year, was also celebrated this year at Chotipara village in Goalpara district of Assam.
According to a statement, the two-day event, which concluded on Saturday, was organised jointly by Garo Cultural Forum and Garo Students’ Union with support from Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council.
A total of 10 dance troupes had taken part in the event. “One Wangala troupe came from Dadangre village, Meghalaya, and other nine troupes were from both Assam’s Kamrup and Goalpara districts,” the statement said.
Speaking during the programme, president of Garo Cultural Forum Desal Bimik R Marak informed that 100 Drums Wangala Festival was celebrated by Garos living in Assam for the first time.
“The Wangala Festival is celebrated every year in Meghalaya only. But for the first time, we, Garo people living in Assam, are celebrating the festival here in Chotipara (Jajong Kadoram). We got support from the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council, but we need full support from the Assam government, so that we can celebrate this colourful festival broadly,” Marak said.
It was also informed during the event that the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council had financed workshops on Wangala dance and music at Chotipara and Muskhuli in Goalpara district earlier this year.
Deputy Chairman of Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council Ramakanta Rabha, on the other hand, appreciated the decision by the Garo community to organise the 100 Drums Wangala Festival for the first time in Assam.
It may be mentioned that the two-day event was attended by members of Garo Students’ Union, Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council, among others.
Garo indigenous games and food, cultural dances and songs, et al, were some of the highlights of the event.