Wangala is also called the "Hundred Drums" festival, a harvest festival celebrated by the Garo tribe, who live in Meghalaya, Nagaland and Assam in India and Greater Mymensingh in Bangladesh. During this post-harvest festival, they thank Misi Saljong, the sun god, for blessing the people with a rich harvest. Wangala is celebrated in the months of September to December, with different villages setting different dates for the occasion.
Wangala, the festival of a hundred drums
Wangala is traditionally celebrated for two to three days – or up to a week – by two or three collaborating villages; although recently it has been celebrated for a day in metropolitan areas as an attempt to retain the ancient heritage of the Garo tribe and expose the younger generation to its roots.
The true traditional styles of celebrating Wangala can be found in remote 'Songsarek' (animist) villages such as Sadolpara in the West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya, where people who worship the old gods still persist in their way of life; while rejecting the
A much more publicized and commercialized variant of Wangala can be seen in the 100 Drums Festival held at Asanang in West Garo Hills, Meghalaya, where performers (who may or may not be Christians and non-Songsarek) are invited from all over Garo Hills, and even from far-flung places such as Karbi Anglong, Tripura and Bangladesh which have significant pockets of Garo people. This mega event runs for three days and hosts various fan favorites such as sports, food, art and culture.
Tura, the de facto cultural, financial and political heart of the Garos, is mainly represented by the students of the Christian Girls' Higher Secondary School, Tura (which teaches dance to its students as an essential part of the curriculum) at all 100 Drums Festival.
Rugala (lit. Pouring rice beer) and Cha·chat So·a (lit. Burning incense) are the rituals performed on the first day by the priest, known as "Kamal". These rituals are performed inside the house of the Nokma (chief, that is to say the husband of the woman who holds power over an a'king) of the village.
Dama Gogata, the dance with assorted drums, flutes and brass instruments by men and women dressed in colorful dresses and proud headdresses – an image that is synonymous with Wangala visuals – is performed on the last day of the celebration of a day.
During Wangala, young and old dress in their colorful clothes (Dakmanda, Daksari or Gando) and their feathered headgear (do'me) and dance to music played on long shaped drums. oval (Dama).
Katta Doka (speaking in traditional tribal singing/rap style), Ajia, Dani Doka (describing Wangala while singing), Chambil Mesaa or Pomelo dance are performed during these days.
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Today, the Garo tribe of Nagaland celebrates Wangala. This post-harvest festival in honour of the sun god Misi Salijong is used to bless the people with a bountiful harvest. #mythology #myth #legend #calendar #8November #nagaland #garo #wangala
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