November 10 will fill the air with the resonance of thunderous rhythm of drum beats in Asanang, 18 Kms from Tura capital of West Garo Hills. Preparations for the annual 100 drums Wangala festival is underway as volunteers are hustling up to make every nitty-gritty segment of the grand event arranged to perfection.
The magnificent festival is finally making echoes even outside the State and this time the celebration is expected to make more waves to draw the tourists all over the world. As the atmosphere will reverberate with the flawless coordinated percussive skills of performers beating their dama, there is sense behind grand celebration.
The Wangala is the post harvest festival of the Garos holding great significance. The festival is annually held in the month of October to November. It is a "Thanksgiving" ceremony to Misi Saljong, also known as Pattigipa Ra'rongipa (The Great Giver) for helping the farmers to reap their provender dividends after they toil the soil the whole year.
The festival which is ever-growing and moving from strength to strength in size as well as popularity is organized in a competitive format to integrate the scattered ethnic group across state and national borders while preserving and promoting indigenous A’chik culture globally.
Each year 10 contingents drawn from as many a’king or community- owned clan holdings converge on the community development block of Rongram where they wow domestic and overseas audiences with their percussive skills.
The three day festival will start from November 10 – 12. Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr.Mukul Sangma has consented to be the Chief Guest on the final day.
The festival will also see 30 member dance troupe from the neighboring country of Bangladesh. From November 10th 2011 different troupes participating in the event will start arriving in Asanang for the 33rd Wangala festival, this time the event is expected to better than ever before.
Besides the traditional 100 drums presentation being the main attraction of the festival other event that are lined up are - indigenous games/sports oral traditions, ajia doroa grika competition concluding with Rugala and Sasat so'a ceremony at 3 pm on November 11.
Department of Industries will be organising Handicraft exhibition cum sale for the local entrepreneurs. One can also taste varieties of Garo cuisine during the festival.
November 12 will mark the culmination of the grand spectacle of Wangala dance competition by 10 troupes from different parts of Garo Hills presided by the welcome speech by Wangala organization chairman followed by the address of the chief guest. Then the special performance by the Bangladeshi troupe ensued by the much awaited 100 drums Wangala dance by 300 dancers is expected to enthrall the audience as well as tourists.
The magnificent festival is finally making echoes even outside the State and this time the celebration is expected to make more waves to draw the tourists all over the world. As the atmosphere will reverberate with the flawless coordinated percussive skills of performers beating their dama, there is sense behind grand celebration.
The Wangala is the post harvest festival of the Garos holding great significance. The festival is annually held in the month of October to November. It is a "Thanksgiving" ceremony to Misi Saljong, also known as Pattigipa Ra'rongipa (The Great Giver) for helping the farmers to reap their provender dividends after they toil the soil the whole year.
The festival which is ever-growing and moving from strength to strength in size as well as popularity is organized in a competitive format to integrate the scattered ethnic group across state and national borders while preserving and promoting indigenous A’chik culture globally.
Each year 10 contingents drawn from as many a’king or community- owned clan holdings converge on the community development block of Rongram where they wow domestic and overseas audiences with their percussive skills.
The three day festival will start from November 10 – 12. Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr.Mukul Sangma has consented to be the Chief Guest on the final day.
The festival will also see 30 member dance troupe from the neighboring country of Bangladesh. From November 10th 2011 different troupes participating in the event will start arriving in Asanang for the 33rd Wangala festival, this time the event is expected to better than ever before.
Besides the traditional 100 drums presentation being the main attraction of the festival other event that are lined up are - indigenous games/sports oral traditions, ajia doroa grika competition concluding with Rugala and Sasat so'a ceremony at 3 pm on November 11.
Department of Industries will be organising Handicraft exhibition cum sale for the local entrepreneurs. One can also taste varieties of Garo cuisine during the festival.
November 12 will mark the culmination of the grand spectacle of Wangala dance competition by 10 troupes from different parts of Garo Hills presided by the welcome speech by Wangala organization chairman followed by the address of the chief guest. Then the special performance by the Bangladeshi troupe ensued by the much awaited 100 drums Wangala dance by 300 dancers is expected to enthrall the audience as well as tourists.
