Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma attended the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Garo community's harvest festival in Tura.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma attended the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Garo community’s Wangala Festival as the Chief Guest on Thursday. The event took place at the Garo Heritage Village in the West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya, according to The Pioneer and ANI.
The festival, which is being celebrated from November 11 to 14, is the principal harvest festival of the Garo community. Also known as the ‘100 Drums Festival’, the Golden Jubilee edition featured Garo artistes performing with 1,000 drums and 2,000 dancers.
Sarma witnessed traditional Garo dances and the Rugala rituals, where prayers of thanksgiving are offered for a bountiful harvest. He also tasted 'Bitchi', the traditional Garo rice beer, and played the 'Dama', an iconic Garo drum.
Recalling the festival's history, the Chief Minister said formal celebrations began in 1975 at Chandmari Playground in Tura with 10 drums. He noted that the then Meghalaya Chief Minister, Captain Williamson A Sangma, suggested expanding the celebration to 100 drums.
Sarma paid tribute to pioneers Hubert Cocksi Sangma and Prabir Raksam for their efforts in transforming the festival. He described Wangala as a reflection of the Garo community's bond with nature and a living expression of indigenous wisdom.
The celebrations were attended by Meghalaya Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Timothy D Shira and Wangala Festival Committee President Ronald Reckman Sangma.
