Shillong, Nov 8: The second day of the 48th 100 Drums Wangala Festival witnessed a touch of divinity added to the colourful festival with the ancient ceremony of Rugala at the permanent site of Garo Heritage Village at Wangala A’dam in Chibragre in West Garo Hills.

Rugala ceremony is the most important spiritual ceremony of the festival and is held a day ahead of the 100 Drums Wangala Dance. Rugala ceremony is performed by the Nokma (village chief) wherein he displays his valuable gongs covered with long banana leaves. All agricultural implements are placed beside the centrepost of the house. First hand special rice-beer is poured over the gongs and newly harvested crops are arranged in ritualistic patterns. This is followed by rice-beer along with cooked rice and the vegetables offered to “Misi Saljong”, the Great Giver, to bless mankind with plentiful foodgrains. It is followed by social merry making-singing and dancing all night long by young and old to the rhythmic beating of drums.

Although Rugala Ceremony marks the second day of the 100 Drums Wangala Festival, it is sometimes considered as the first day of the festival with the Wangala dance on the second and final day.

This year, the second day of the festival also had the Folk Song Competition organized with an aim to promote the traditional music and musical instruments of the Garo Tribe.

The Chief Guest for the day, Registrar General of Meghalaya High Court, E. Kharumniud, extended his warm greeting to the Garo Community on the occasion of the Wangala Festival and mentioned that that each one should be thankful for the bountiful blessings they receive. He added that this thanksgiving ceremony would promote peace, harmony and prosperity to the community as well as to the people of the State of Meghalaya. He also expressed hope that this festival would scale greater heights in future and spread the message of love and brotherhood among the community.

Chairman of the Hundred Drums Wangala Festival Committee, Ronald Rikman Sangma, stated that organizing the greatest festival of the Garos is a matter of great pride for them as they are able to preserve and showcase the rich culture and traditions of the Garos to others.

Informing that the infrastructural developmental activities in the Garo Heritage Village are progressing in a phased manner, he said much more has to be done in future. He also expressed his gratitude to the Government for their constant support and also look forward to the government for their continued support in future for completing the project.

Wangala is the most significant post-harvest festival of the Garos generally held in the second week of November every year. It is a thanksgiving ceremony to Misi Saljong also known as Pattigipa Ra∙rongipa (The Great Giver) for having blessed the people with the rich harvest of the season.

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