Shillong, Nov 8: The 100 drums Wangala Festival and cultural extravaganza kick started at Asananggre, West Garo Hills, near Tura on Wednesday.
On day one, the four-day festival commenced with holding of indigenous games and sports of the Garos.
The Wangala is the most significant post harvest festival of the Garos generally held every year in the second week of November. It is a thanksgiving ceremony to Misi Saljong also known as Pattigipa Rarongipa (The Great Giver) for having blessed the people with rich harvest of the season.
Wangala which is the cultural identity of the Garos is fast disappearing due to the impact of modern civilization and Western culture.
Therefore in order to protect and preserve and promote this cultural identity, a group of Garo intellectuals put their heads together and decided to organize the Wangala Festival on modern lines.
The first 100 drums Wangala Festival was successfully organized on 6th and 7th December, 1976 at Asanang, the headquarters of Rongram Development Block. Since then, the 100 drums Wangala Festival is being organized in the second week of November every year and the festival has grown over the years under the patronage of the Meghalaya government and nurtured by Festival Organization.
The indigenous games organized as part of the Wangala Festival comprises of Wapong Sika, Jakpong Pea, An∙ding O∙ka, Rong∙ma Chilsusaa, Rong∙ma Gosusaa, Tug of War among others.
Sports enthusiasts from different localities and districts also participated in the progamme.
