Meghalaya marks 50 years of Wangala festival with 1,000 drums and 3,000 dancers

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on November 11 inaugurated the golden jubilee celebrations of the 100 Drums Wangala Festival at Wangala A'dam in Chibragre, near Tura, with the 50th edition bringing together 1,000 drummers and 3,000 dancers.

The four-day festival, being held from November 11 to 14 under the theme 'Rhythm of 1,000 Drums', marks five decades of efforts to preserve and promote the traditional music, dance and cultural practices of the Garo community.

Addressing the gathering, Sangma recalled the vision of former Lok Sabha Speaker PA Sangma, who had wanted the festival to grow from a 100-drum presentation into one featuring 1,000 drums. He said the golden jubilee celebrations had fulfilled that vision.

The Chief Minister also paid tribute to the pioneers who organised the first edition in 1976, including Captain A Sangma, Sanford K Marak, Dr Bernard K Marak, Probin Raksam, Hubert K Sangma, Liander K Mara, Herik S Sangma, Felix R Sangma and Garnet Mangsang. He said the government would felicitate the founders posthumously in recognition of their contribution.

Sangma said the expansion of the festival should go hand in hand with efforts to protect the community's cultural identity and traditions. He said the government had sanctioned Rs 20 crore through the Public Works Department for developing the Wangala A'dam venue and allocated another Rs 6 crore towards organising this year's celebrations.

He also said the government had sanctioned funds for the festival's attempt to enter the Guinness World Records, citing its cultural significance.

The golden jubilee programme includes traditional performances, Rugala, Cha'chat So'a, indigenous games and sports, folk-song competitions, oral traditions and exhibitions of traditional food, handloom and handicrafts.

Cultural contingents from Garo-inhabited areas of Assam, Nagaland, Tripura and Karbi Anglong are also participating. Groups representing the Ruga, Chibok, Megam and Atong communities have been invited to showcase their traditions.

More than 300 exhibition stalls have been proposed to showcase indigenous food, traditional attire, ornaments, handicrafts, local products and souvenirs, providing a platform for local artisans and entrepreneurs.

The festival traces its organised beginnings to December 6 and 7, 1976, when village troupes from different parts of Garo Hills gathered at Asanang for a common cultural presentation. It was conceived at a time when traditional village-level Wangala celebrations were declining in several areas.

The original format featured 10 contingents, each comprising around 10 drummers and 30 dancers, bringing the total to 100 drums and 300 dancers. The event was organised to encourage community participation and preserve traditional Garo rituals, music, dance and attire.

The festival was shifted from Asanang to Wangala A'dam at the Garo Heritage Village in Chibragre in 2020, providing a dedicated venue for its expansion. Over the years, it has developed into a major cultural event, attracting visitors from different parts of India and abroad.