Wangala Festival
Wangala is the harvest
festival of the Garo community. Wangala is celebrated in many separate places
across the season. Those who want to experience the largest Wangala can head to
the 100 Drum Festival – a more recent convergence of multiple festivals on a
single stage held on the first week of November.
Wanga....
Wangala is the harvest
festival of the Garo community. Wangala is celebrated in many separate places
across the season. Those who want to experience the largest Wangala can head to
the 100 Drum Festival – a more recent convergence of multiple festivals on a
single stage held on the first week of November.
Wangala is a reminder to
all the rich indigenous culture of the Garos – many of the symbols and rituals
reflect the strong beliefs that existed before Christianity entered these
verdant hills. The main deity of Wangala is the sun-god and the main soundtrack
is provided by the Nagra drum. Towards the end of the festival (which continues
for days), the largest batch of dancers converge on the main celebration area
with multiple drum and perform the ceremonial and traditional dances.
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Activities
Wangala is a time of
revelry – as the harvest is complete and the people can rejoice. In the midst
of the festivities, apart from soaking in the beautiful dances and outfits,
visitors can enjoy local cuisine and traditional beverages like the famous Garo
rice wine – bitchi. During the Wangala festival, the men and women are dressed
in the best traditional apparels, showcasing vivid colours and patterns. Some
of the eye-catching garments that the women wear include the bead-embellished
chroko ganna, the ganna dakmanda (wrap), the genji gisim (shirt) or they can
also replace that with a pandra (a crisscrossed cloth worn across the body),
and kadesil is the distinctive headgear. Coral, shells, beads, and silver
dominates the many ornaments worn by the men and women.
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Organized By
Hundred Drums Wangala Festival Committee
Rikman
Wangala A'dam Chibagre, West Garo Hills
7005426122
rikman279[at]gmail[dot]com
How to reach
The nearest airport is Guwahati Airort,
which is 199 KMs away.
The nearest convenient railway station is Guwahati Railway Station,
which is 215 KMs away.
The nearest major city is Tura,
which is 4KMs away.
