SHILLONG, NOV 6: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Thursday attended the opening day of the three-day 49th Hundred Drums Wangala Festival at Wangala A’dam, Chibagre, in West Garo Hills. The programme was also attended by Gambegre MLA Mehtab Chandee Agitok Sangma, West Garo Hills SP Abraham T. Sangma, Chief Secretary Dr. Shakil Ahammed, and other dignitaries.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister thanked the participating contingents from across Garo Hills, calling the annual convergence of the Garo community a blessing. He also expressed gratitude to the organising committee for preserving and promoting Garo culture for nearly five decades.
Highlighting the growing recognition of the festival, he informed that the Hundred Drums Wangala Festival has been featured in the November 2025 issue of Indigo airline’s inflight magazine.
“This three-page article is not a paid feature. It showcases our festival purely because of its uniqueness, attractiveness, and cultural significance,” he said.
The Chief Minister announced that works for the approach road to Wangala A’dam have already begun, with ₹20 crore sanctioned for the project.
“Once completed, access to the venue will be smoother, allowing more visitors and tourists to experience the festival,” he said.
Looking ahead to the Golden Jubilee celebrations next year, Sangma said the government will extend full support to make the 50th edition grander and more impactful. He suggested forming a State Level Committee for the occasion and emphasised collaboration between government agencies and local stakeholders.
He recalled the vision of late P. A. Sangma, who had dreamt of scaling the event into a “1000 Drums Wangala Festival.”
“It should be our endeavour to make the Golden Jubilee celebration truly magnificent,” he added.
The Chief Minister also urged cooperation from the organising committee and civil society groups to preserve and promote the cultural heritage of the Garo people.
On cultural research, Sangma highlighted the Chief Minister’s Research Grant, which supports documentation of Meghalaya’s traditions, music, and indigenous practices.
“We want to introduce more interventions, including video documentation, to preserve our culture,” he said, adding that youth training in traditional practices will be encouraged.
He further revealed that a committee has been formed to document the migration history of the tribes of Meghalaya.
“The committee will research and document the journey of the Garos from Tibet, and the Khasi and Jaintia tribes from Vietnam and Cambodia,” he said, noting that preliminary findings show cultural and linguistic similarities between the Garos and Tibetan communities.
Chief Secretary Dr. Shakil Ahammed, in his address, stressed the importance of preserving cultural identity amidst rapid modernization. He urged youth to remain rooted in tradition and highlighted Meghalaya’s progress in climate resilience.
“We are among the few states that have introduced green budgeting and long-term planning to sustainably manage resources for the next seventy years,” he said.
The programme began with prayers led by Rev. Dilseng M. Sangma, Rev. Fr. Januarious S. Sangma, and Dr. Imnanungshi Imsong, Principal of HTC, followed by a welcome address from Ronald Rikman Sangma, Chairman of the Hundred Drums Wangala Festival Committee (HDWFC) and the Garo Hills Volunteers Corps (GHVC).
The Chief Minister and dignitaries were presented with mementos. Students from NEHU, Tura, performed a special traditional dance, and the highlight of the day was the spectacular “Hundred Drums Wangala” performance featuring drummers, flute players, and women dancers.
The day’s events also included a slow food cooking competition, the inauguration of a handloom and handicraft exhibition, and various indigenous games. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Salgira Sangma, Secretary of the HDWFC.
Celebrated after the harvest season, the Wangala Festival is a major cultural event organised annually by the Hundred Drums Wangala Festival Committee in collaboration with the Meghalaya Tourism Department. The three-day festival showcases the rich cultural legacy of the Garo people through traditional dances, rituals, and drum performances.
