Wangala Festival - Summary
The Wangala Festival in Meghalaya is one of the most renowned Garo tribal festivals, attracting numerous visitors every year. This vibrant celebration, held annually around November since 1976, is a key event for the Garo community.
Although November 13 has been declared a holiday to honor this festival, the organizing committee remains cautious in planning the celebrations due to the ongoing concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wangala Festival at Garo
The A’chiks, the indigenous people of the Garo highlands, showcase rich and unique cultural traditions during this festival.
Exploring the Garo Hills is a fantastic experience. Key places to visit include Balpakram, known as the Grand Canyon of the East, the beautiful Rongbang Dare waterfalls in East Garo Hills, and the stunning Bombe Wari waterfalls in South Garo Hills. Don’t miss the enchanting Siju caverns and the Nengkong caves.
A trip to Garo Hills is incomplete without visiting the Siju Bird Sanctuary and the picturesque Nokrek National Park.
Wangala Festival Tradition
The Wangala Festival is a post-harvest celebration primarily observed in Meghalaya and some regions of Assam, marking the end of the farming season. Known as the Festival of 100 Drums, it is the Garo tribe’s most significant celebration, taking place just before winter arrives.
During this festival, the Sun God, Misi Saljong, is worshipped for the earth’s fertility and a bountiful harvest. The village leader, or Nokma, conducts rituals with freshly brewed beer, rice, and vegetables offered to the deity a day prior to the festivities. The highlight of the festival is its lively music.
To know more about the Wangala Festival, you can download the PDF that contains all the essential details everyone should be aware of!