SHILLONG, July 15: The state government is planning an expanded celebration of the Wangala Festival this year to mark its golden jubilee, with the traditional ‘100 Drums’ event set to feature 1,000 drums and an expected turnout of over one lakh people.
Tourism Minister Timothy D. Shira stated that Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has directed officials to conduct site inspections to ensure the venue can accommodate the massive crowd and vehicular traffic.
Shira informed that he will soon hold a joint inspection with officials to assess the venue’s capacity for the ‘1,000 Drums’ edition.
It was further informed that infrastructure requirements, including the expansion of the approach road, are also being addressed.
While the government has acquired 70 hectares of land at Nongalgre for hosting major events, officials noted that developing the site will take time before it is ready for use.
Additionally, Shira said the government is taking steps to expedite the expansion of Baljek Airport to improve connectivity to the Garo Hills region.
