Wangala Festival Aims for Guinness World Record in Meghalaya
Celebrating the Wangala Festival
The venue, Wangala A’dam, near Chibragre village in West Garo Hills district being prepared for the cultural extravaganza.
Tura, Nov 11: The upcoming Wangala Festival, the largest celebration in the Garo Hills of Meghalaya, is set to make a bid for a Guinness World Record this year. This grand post-harvest festival, marking its golden jubilee, will commence tomorrow.
Wangala troupes from various regions in the North East and beyond are gathering at Wangala A’dam, located near Chibragre village in West Garo Hills, for the four-day festivities. An estimated 100,000 attendees are expected throughout the event.
Known as the ‘Hundred Drums Wangala Festival’, the number of drums will increase to 1,000, with participants from Nagaland, Assam, Tripura, and other North Eastern states preparing for the occasion.
Intensive preparations are underway at the venue to accommodate cultural groups and visitors from across the nation and internationally.
The Wangala Festival, which holds both religious and cultural significance for the Garo community, is celebrated post-harvest in honor of Misi Saljong, the Sun God, as a gesture of gratitude for a fruitful harvest and agricultural success.
Albert Sangma, a protocol officer for the festival, mentioned that cultural groups began arriving at the venue on November 7. A 10-km Wangala-thon (marathon) is also being organized as part of the golden jubilee festivities.
As the participating groups gather at Wangala A’dam in Chibagre, special training and rehearsals are being conducted for the grand performance featuring the 1,000 drums.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma will serve as the chief guest for the festival's inauguration on Wednesday, where a souvenir titled Chirongdik will be unveiled. The event will also feature prayers and a special dance by a Wangala troupe from Karbi Anglong, Assam.
A program to honor the pioneers and former leaders of the Hundred Drums Wangala Cultural Festival Committee will also take place.
On the second day, November 12, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will attend. The day's events will include prayers, welcome speeches, Ruga dance, the 1,000-drum performance, special dance competitions, indigenous games, and prize distributions.
Meghalaya Governor Chandrashekhar H Vijayashankar will be the chief guest on November 13, with highlights including traditional Chachat So’a ceremonies, folk songs, performances by a children's Wangala troupe, and the 1,000-drums program.
Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will be the chief guest at the festival's closing ceremony on November 14, where a special attempt will be made for a Guinness World Record entry. The event will conclude with prize distributions and performances by various artists.