TURA, Oct 9: The festive season, knocking around the corner, beginning with Durga Pujas, Diwali and going on to the biggest Harvest Festival-100 Drums Wangala in early November, a lively atmosphere of celebrations is gradually building up in the region.
And what better way to ignite the colourful fireworks than a mouth-watering ‘Traditional Food and Drinks Competition’ on a weekend like Saturday at the scenic picnic spot in Chibragre, on the banks of the Ganol river, 15 kms from Tura.
The daylong food fest organsed by the Garo Heritage village to help raise funds for the upcoming 44th 100 Drums Wangala Festival, which is going to take place at its permanent site, not far from the picnic spot, witnessed an enthusiastic crowd of food lovers.
From Brenga (chicken and pork in bamboo) to We.etipa (fish and meat baked in banana leaves over embers), it was nothing short of a gourmet’s delight.
West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Ram Singh, who never misses out on such traditional events, particularly ethnic food and drinks, was in his element.
Food wasn’t the only item on the table. Some of the most famous producers of the rice beer Bitchi from the traditional Garo villages of Babadam, Damal Asim and others arrived with their produce to quench the thirst of food lovers.
The participants did not revolve around the region alone, as some of the competitors came from as far as neighbouring districts too.
To adjust the best traditional cooks and their items in this competition, a panel of four senior officers was given the luxurious task of savouring the menu prepared by the participants.
The judges were drawn from bureaucratic circles and traditional groups, viz. Home Guard Commandant PT Sangma, Chief Forest Officer of GHADC Rangku N Sangma, Sub Divisional Officer of Soil & Water Conservation, South Garo Hills John Oswin S Momin, and Secretary of Garo Heritage Village, Rakkan M Sangma.
The winners of the food competition were Salmera A Sangma who bagged the first position, followed by Bilman G Momin and Bikromjit A Sangma — first and second runners-up respectively.
It was a welcome surprise for the traditional inhabitants of Buripara village who walked away with all three honours in the rice beer competition. Panjak Ch Sangma was declared as the winner of traditional drinks competition, followed by Manme Ch Sangma and Chajing Ch Sangma — the first and second runners-up positions, all from Buripara village.
The lone winner of Ranggol Kime sala was Jotil Ch Sangma. It is a unique competition to see who can hold and drink rice beer continuously at one go from a big pong (long-neck dried gourd). In its simplest form, participants drink equal amounts of rice beer simultaneously and whoever quits throws up or passes out first, loses.
This enthralling event of Ethnic Food & Drinks competition was organised to help promote the vanishing Garo traditional and cultural culinary and drinks that have been followed for generations by the Garo community.
