BOKO: Thousands of spectators from both Assam and Meghalaya states came to the Garo village of Chotipara in Assam’s Goalpara district along the Assam-Meghalaya border to witness the two-day-long second edition of the 100 Drums Wangala Festival, that concluded on Saturday with a colorful display of traditional dance and beating of the drums.
Organised jointly by the Garo Cultural Forum and Garo Students’ Union (GSU), this is the second year such a colorful post-harvest festival has been organised in a big way by the Garos of Assam.
Ten traditional Garo Wangala Dance Troupes took part in this two-day cultural event that drew crowds from as far as Bongaigaon and Boko, near Guwahati, and from various villages of the neighbouring state of Meghalaya.
The winners of this year’s 100 Drums Wangala Festival in Garo Hills – Gondenggre Wangala Troupe of Dadenggre – mesmerised the crowds with their unique dance steps.
The highlight of the festival was the eye-catching 100-drum dance performed by nine troupes from Assam’s Kamrup and Goalpara districts alongside Gondenggre of Meghalaya.
Meghalaya Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma was the chief guest at the concluding programme on Saturday evening.
Highlighting the significance of preserving the traditional culture of the Garos, Minister Rakkam Sangma said that in the last few years the ethnic culture and customs are being gradually encouraged across areas where the Garos reside, and this, he said, is a welcome sign.
Earlier, our cultural celebrations were limited in celebrations to select areas, but nowadays the celebrations are expanding and this shows the keenness of the people to not just preserve, but also expose our rich cultural heritage to the rest of the world. We need to continue doing this for the betterment of our tribe and community,” said Rakkam Sangma.
The minister also took part in a final Wangala dance with other dignitaries that included Pongseng R Marak, Bajengdoba MLA and Chairperson, Public Grievance & Redressal Committee, Government of Meghalaya, Ramakanta Rabha, Deputy Chief Executive Member of Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC), Frylin R Marak, Sumit Rabha and Aditya Rabha, Executive Members of RHAC and several other dignitaries.
Desal Bimik R Marak, President of Garo Cultural Forum said, „Since last year we have celebrated Wangala Festival in Assam to promote our culture of the Garo people.”
“The reason behind the celebration of the festival is that our grandparents after harvesting gave thanks to the Sun God and celebrated the Wangala festival. „So we also decided to celebrate our Wangala Festival forever here in Assam,” added Desal Bimik R Marak.
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