Guwahati, Nov 12 Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said the Wangala Festival of the Garos reflects the community’s deep bond with nature, unwavering faith in the almighty and profound gratitude for the blessings of life.
Attending the Golden Jubilee celebrations on the second day of the four-day festival at the Garo Heritage Village in Meghalaya’s West Garo Hills district, the chief minister said it brings together music, dance, tradition and spirituality, representing a way of life preserved and passed down through generations.
He also saw various Garo dances and appreciated the community’s traditional method of brewing rice beer.
Wangala, the principal harvest festival of the Garo community, is celebrated to express gratitude to the Almighty for a bountiful harvest. Also popularly known as the ‘100 Drums Festival’, the Golden Jubilee edition featured Garo artistes performing an impressive display of their cultural heritage with 1,000 drums before Sarma.
The festival is being celebrated from November 11 to 14.
Sarma said it was a privilege to join the Garo community in celebrating an event that embodies the diversity and enduring spirit of India’s indigenous heritage.
Recalling the festival’s journey, he said that its formal celebration began in 1975 at Chandmari Playground in Tura with just 10 drums. On the suggestion of the then Meghalaya chief minister Williamson A Sangma, the celebration expanded to 100 drums, which laid the foundation for its present grandeur, he said.
Sarma also paid tributes to Hubert Cocksi Sangma and Prabir Raksam, whose vision and efforts helped transform the festival into an extraordinary cultural celebration featuring 1,000 drums and 2,000 dancers.
Highlighting Wangala’s close association with agriculture and the harvest season, the Assam chief minister said the festival reminds us of the age-old relationship between humanity and nature.
The tradition of offering the first harvest and rice beer to the almighty symbolises the importance of acknowledging life’s blessings with humility and gratitude, he said.
Describing Wangala as a priceless reflection of India’s knowledge and civilisational heritage, the chief minister said that the Indian Knowledge System is not confined to ancient scriptures but also encompasses traditional beliefs, indigenous wisdom and the profound relationship with nature reflected in festivals such as Wangala.
He stressed that indigenous festivals should not be viewed only as cultural performances or tourism attractions, but recognised as living expressions of knowledge and wisdom.
Sarma urged the younger generation to take pride in their languages, traditions and cultural identities, and to remain connected to their roots even as they embrace modern education, technology and new professional opportunities.
Referring to the close relationship between Assam and Meghalaya, the chief minister said that every visit to the neighbouring state makes him feel that he is among his own people, as the bond between the two states transcends geographical boundaries and is rooted in shared history, culture and emotions.
Meghalaya Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Timothy D. Shira, Wangala Festival Committee President Ronald Reckman Sangma, among other distinguished personalities, were present at the celebrations.
(PTI News)
