Merchandised memorabilia to debut at 100 Drums Fest

Merchandised memorabilia to debut at 100 Drums Fest

In the 32nd year since it was first celebrated, the 100 Drums Wangala Festival is to see the advent of merchandised souvenirs for the very first time. Reacting to a popular view that the indigenous festival of the A'chik needed to get a more 'global' feel to bring in the tourists, the organizers will be introducing, curios and mementoes for display and sale to visitors from outside the region and country. These include heirloom quality ceramic plates, wall-hangings, keychains, vanity mirrors, travel flasks, coffee mugs, T-shirts and badges among a host of other products.

Mirroring the festival theme of a hundred dama (the A'chik long drum), the brand is a combination of representative symbols in vibrant colours using graffiti style of writing to give it a contemporary feel. Super-imposed on a splatter of autumn colours are the words, "100 Drums Wangala Festival 2010." At the apex is a plume of cockerel feathers - the kotip - the head-dress worn by male dancers bound to the numerals 100 by a bright red sash that wraps around the writing to suspend the dama. The entire element is given the shape of the Greek character 'Delta', which in silhouette resembles the head and shoulders of a drummer. In the background appears several palm prints in white, a familiar icon in most rural A'chik dwellings that is considered a talisman to ward off evil. 

An initiative by prominent members of the A'chik society, the merchandising 'idea' is being promoted as a pilot project to help the organizing committee achieve a two-point agenda of raising funds that will in turn help organize the festival better in future. A venture mooted by top-notch Shillong-based creative designer studio Cognet, the aim of introducing the merchandise is to create a brand for the festival and increase its visibility and make it a talking point.

The introduction of the merchandise assumes special significance following the scintillating performance by the A'chik cultural contingent at the opening ceremony of the recently-concluded Commonwealth Games that was choreographed by renowned musician AR Rahman. But this is not the first time the Wangala dance has occupied centrestage. It was an integral part of the opening ceremony of the Asian Games held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in 1982. 

Meanwhile, the response of the public to the memorabilia and mementoes has been overwhelming. The studio which is playing a nodal role in the first-time project, said while the demand was likely to outstrip the supply of the mementoes this year, those who were unable to procure any for themselves could leave their contact details and their orders would be couriered to them within a week after the date of booking. It is also reliably learned that the mechandise would be available online and at select outlets in Tura and Shillong; sources said, limited numbers would also be stocked by airports in the North Eastern region.