Introduction

One of the most important festivals of the Garo Hills, the Wangala Festival (Nov) of Meghalaya is one of the major tourist attractions of Meghalaya. The festival is predominantly a harvest festival which pays homage to Salijong or the Sun God as an expression of thanksgiving for the good crop of the year. Though the festival is one of the most important events of the Garo calendar, yet, there is no fixed date assigned for the festival, which is thus celebrated at different days in the various regions of the Garo Hills. Besides a harvest festival the Wangala Festival or the Festival of Hundred Drums is also a way of welcoming the New Year.

Wangala Festival

The main preparations of the festival start on the first day of the festival when the chief of the tribe oversees the foundation of the festival in the form of a ceremony called "Ragula" in his house. This is followed by the "Kakkal", which takes place on the second day of the festival and is characterized by all the people of the tribe decking up in all their colorful finery and headgear. The leader of the tribe or the Nokma as he is generally known is at the center of all the proceedings during the festival which is characterized by an overflow of food, rice-beer and of course laughter!

Wangala Dance

The Wangala Dance is the main dance of the festival, epitomizing all the glory, color and finery in itself. The dance places a clear division amongst the men and the women as hey constitute different lines during the dance. Accompanying this are the beats, rhythm and sounds of the various indigenous musical instruments played on by the people of the region.

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