Williamnagar, Oct 26: The 4th 50 Drums Wangala Festival came to a grand conclusion at the picturesque village of Balchol A’bri, which overlooks Williamnagar town, on Saturday.
Organized by the Manda Nokpante A’chik Culture Society, the two-day event was held on October 25-26 to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the Garo people.
On Friday (Day 1), the festival commenced with a flag hoisting ceremony, followed by the traditional Rugala Ceremony and indigenous games, setting the tone for the cultural extravaganza.
On Saturday (Day 2), the highlight of the festival was the Wangala Dance, witnessed by hundreds of attendees including the Speaker of Meghalaya, Thomas A. Sangma, who served as the Chief Guest. He was accompanied by the local MLA and cabinet minister, Marcuise N. Marak, who was the Guest of Honour, along with their spouses and government officials.
In his address, Thomas A. Sangma, praised the local MLA Marcuise N. Marak for his initiative in organizing the festival. He encouraged the organizers to extend their efforts beyond the Wangala festival to include programs related to Garo culture, such as customary rules and laws. He highlighted the need for awareness about traditional practices, like the ‘Nok Chame’ (Engagement Day), where people often hire speakers due to a lack of knowledge about the customs.
Earlier, Marcuise N. Marak thanked the organizers and government officials for their efforts in making the event a success. He emphasized the importance of preserving Garo culture and urged the community to distinguish between religion and culture.
Despite the challenging weather conditions, with rain affecting the night, four Wangala troupes participated in the dance: Rapdikgre Wangala Group, Williamnagar Art and Culture Wangala Group, Williamnagar Government College, and Manda Nokpante A’chik Culture Society. These troupes captivated the audience and guests with their vibrant performances and were awarded cash prizes by the invited guests.
The Williamnagar Government College, one of the standout troupes, expressed their gratitude to the organizers for the opportunity and for their dedication to preserving the Garo culture.
The festival also featured the awarding of cash prizes for indigenous games, handed over by the invited guests.
W. Ch. Marak, President of Manda Nokpante A’chik Culture Society, informed Hub News that the festival was sponsored by Marcuise N. Marak.
He further stated that this year’s festival was an improvement over previous years and assured that the Wangala Festival would continue in the future.
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