Wangala festival is an annual harvest festival celebrated by the Garo tribe who live in the Garo Hills district of Meghalaya and in some parts of Assam,
Nagaland, Tripura, and Bangladesh. Wangala is known as the hundred drums festival where
the Garo give thanks to the Misi Saljong the sun God, for blessing the people
with a rich harvest. It is celebrated in the month of October to November in
different villages, setting different dates for the occasion.
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| Both Garo male & female dancing during the Wangala festival |
There are so many rituals and sacrifices, and people are being
enjoyed the beats of the long drums and the merrymaking. Every part of the
Wangala dance highlights the social and religious life of the Garos in society.
Celebrations
Wangala festival celebration is traditionally celebrated for
two or three days in villages. During the 100 drums festival, every villager
attired their colorful traditional outfits and feathered headgear and danced to
music played on long oval-shaped drums. The dance is starting at the Nokma
house (Village headman’s house).
These rituals and ceremony performed from the beginning
day of the festival by the priest, known as Kamal. These rituals are performed
inside in house of the Nokma or the husband of the woman who holds power over
the land.
When the rice harvest has been fully gathered, the great
sacrifice and festival of the year, the Wangala takes place. For its
celebration, a date is fixed by the Nokma (headman) and announced among the
village people to facilitate the cleaning of the village, and the household and
make other preparations for the festivals.
It is the most essential harvest festival among the Garos.
They celebrated by drinking rice beer, eating various types of meat,
sprinkling rice flour, beating drums, and merry-making. All the Garo people,
both male, and female wear traditional dresses, headgear, and ornaments. They
joined in together to dance vigorously to the popular songs and celebrated
together.
The Second ceremony of the Wangala was the real ceremony
called Chu-Rugala which means pouring the rice beer, an offering to Saljong, and
this ceremony was started from the house of the Nokma. Before offering to Sun
God the harvested crops cannot be taken. Everyone drinks rice beer after it is
provided to the gods and the ceremony ends with the beating of the drums.
Before sunset, every village house was painted with powdered rice flour
(Wanti Toka). At sunset, the Kram (drum) was taken out ceremoniously by the
priest from the house of the Nokma, where it was kept. Another drum used for solemn occasions (Nagra) was also put outside. The Nagra was beaten on three
occasions only; the first was for inviting the people to join the drink; the
second, while the celebration was in progress and in full swing and the third was when
the drinking was over and the villagers had to leave for home.
FAQs on Wangala festival
Where is the Wangala festival celebrated?
Wangala festival is celebrated in the Northeastern
Indian state of Meghalaya.
Is Wangala festival a state holiday?
Yes, Wangala is a state holiday of Meghalaya.
What is the main festival of Garo?
Wangala is the main festival of Garo.
Wangala festival is celebrated by which tribe?
By the Garo tribe.
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