100 drum Wangla festival ended on a colourful note

TURA, November 8: The annual 100 drum Wangla festival ended on a colourful note of protecting and preserving rich Garo tradition and culture beyond Garo Hills. This year’s special attraction was a cultural troupe coming from Bangladesh. The Hundred Drums Wangala Festival is being organized in the second week of November every year by the Hundred Drums Wangala Festival Organisation in order to preserve and promote the cultural identity of the Garos. With the advent of modernization, the rich culture of the Garo’s is fast loosing its’ charm. An effort by few conscious people for the last two decades have kept Wangla going and their concept to promote the festival has gone beyond and people from all over the globe are aware of this event.Besides the ten Wangala troupes from Garo Hills, a group of 30 Wangala dancers from Bangladesh, the Khasi warrior dancers and the Laho dancers from Jaintia Hills also participated in the two-day Festival this year.“It’s awesome. It’s so nice to be here around. Every thing is so simple and beautiful”, said Mary and John, a couple from UK who travelled across the country to witness the colourful festival of the Garos.
The State Planning Board Chairman, Mr Purno A Sangma, who participated as the chief guest in the festival, expressed his happiness to see how the Hundred Drums Wangala Festival has grown over the years. He took the opportunity to inform the gathering that the North-East regional office of the Indian Council of Cultural Relations would be inaugurated in Shillong by Mr. Karan Singh on December 13, adding that this would enable the people of the region to project their culture and tradition to other parts of the world. He also informed the people that 1000 Drums Wangala Festival would be organized next year, instead of the 100 drums, for which necessary preparations were being made by the Tourism Minister Mr. Conrad K Sangma.The State Planning Board Chairman also inaugurated the newly constructed Bandasal or the traditional conference house of the Garos as part of the festival. Minister for Taxation, etc Mr. J A Lyngdoh, in his brief speech, also expressed his great happiness to be able to participate in this festival for the first time and extended his greetings to the people of the region on this occasion.Earlier, the President of the Organising Committee, Hundred Drums Wangala Festival, Mr. L K Marak welcomed the gathering and gave a brief highlights on the Wangala festival of the Garos. Lok Sabha MP, Ms Agatha K Sangma, Parliamentary Secretaries, Ms Ampareen Lyngdoh and Mr. James K Sangma, Chief Executive Member, GHADC Mr. Alphonse A Sangma and Chief Secretary of the State Mr. Ranjan Chatterjee were among others who also attended the Wangala festival.The indigenous games and sports and the two-day Industrial Exhibition was also organized at the same venue as part of the festival.

AHAIA-Tura Winter Festival begins on a colourful note

AHAIA-Tura Winter Festival begins on a colourful note
TURA, NOV 3: The Tura Winter Festival, “AHAIA--Garo Hills beckons, 2008”, organized by the Department of Tourism, Meghalaya in collaboration with the District Administation, got off to a colourful start with an impressive Carnival at Tura on Monday.
A colourful cultural procession, which is the first of its kind in Garo Hills, included tableaus depicting the life and culture of the Garos and traditional dances of various tribes and communities living in Garo Hills and was flagged off by the Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, Mr. Thomas A Sangma at Chandmary playground. The processionists marched through the streets of Tura amidst cheers from the onlookers, before converging at Tura MP Stadium, Dakopgre for the formal inauguration of the weeklong festival.
Speaking as the chief guest on the occasion, the Rajya Sabha MP, Mr. Sangma said that this was a proud moment for the people of Garo Hills to show to the rest of the world that the spirit of harmony and brotherhood still exists in this region when incidents of hatred and violence are taking place in other parts of the country. “With the right people in the right places, Garo Hills can only move ahead in the right direction--towards progress and prosperity”, he added.
Earlier, the Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills, Mr F. R. Kharkongor, while delivering his welcome and keynote address, said that “Ahaia” is the essence of Garo culture and hospitality and this winter festival was being organized to showcase all the wonderful aspects and positive vibes of Garo Hills. This carnival was also aimed at bringing about cross-cultural exchange, so various tribes and communities from Garo Hills as well as Jaintia Hills have come together for the festival, he said.
The cultural cavalcade, included six tableaus from various cultural clubs and organizations and government agencies, traditional dancers, including the Bhangra dancers from Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Shillong, Nepali, Assamese, Hajong and Koch dances. A man dressed-up like the legendary ‘Mande buring’ and an elephant which was brought all the way from Assam, were an added attractions during the carnival. Cash prizes were also given away to the three best tableaus.
The fire balloons or ‘tyngkoms’, brought by a team from Jaintia Hills Tourism Development Society (JHTDS) as a gesture of goodwill and friendship, were also released on the occasion.
Earlier in the morning, a welcome gate erected at a tri-junction at Asanang, 18 kms from Tura, was inaugurated by the Rajya Sabha MP Mr. Thomas A Sangma in the presence of Parliamentary Secretaries, Mr. Satto Marak and Mr. Marcuise Marak, JHTDS Secretary, Mr. M.Lohit, Deputy Commissioner, Tura Mr. F R Kharkongor, members of the Tura Chambers of Commerce, district officials and the local residents.
The arch, measuring 12 metres in length, was constructed at a cost of about Rs. 3 lakhs and has been sponsored by the Tura Chambers of Commerce.

Hundred Drums Wangala Festival on Nov 7 & 8,2008

The annual Hundred Drums Wangala Festival of the Garos will be celebrated at Asananggre, 18 kms from Tura, the district headquarter of West Garo Hills on November 7 and 8, 2008.Hectic preparations are on to organize this Festival with the Hundred Drums Wangala Festival Organisation holding series of meetings every Friday for the last couple of months to chalk out the details for the celebration and to raise the required funds for the purpose.The Chief Minister of Meghalaya Dr. Donkupar Roy is expected to attend the Festival as the chief guest, besides hosts of dignitaries, tourists and media from the region and outside.Besides the usual rites associated with the Wangala Festival like the Rugala, Chachat So’a and Dani Doka, among others, there will be competition among the ten participating Wangala troupes from the three districts of Garo Hills, finally culminating with the main Hundred Drums Wangala dance. Troupe from Bangladesh will also be expected to participate in this year’s Hundred Drums Wangala Festival as a special appearance.
It may be mentioned that the Wangala is the most significant post-harvest festival of the Garos, which is generally celebrated in the months of October and November. It is a thanksgiving ceremony to the Misi Saljong, also known as Pattigipa-Ra·rongipa (the Great Giver or the God of Wealth) for having blessed the humans with the rich harvest of the season.The Wangala has been practiced by the ‘Songsareks’ or non-Christian Garos from times immemorial in all the villages of Garo Hills, the time and mode of celebration varies from village to village. However, due to impact of modern civilization and foreign culture, the Wangala, which is the cultural identity of the Garos could be seen fast disappearing. So, in order to protect, preserve and promote this cultural identity, a group of Garo thinkers and leaders came together in a meeting and after a lot of discussion, they decided to organize the Wangala festival on modern lines: a group of 15-30 dancers with ten drums would form a contingent and ten such contingents with 300 dancers would make up the “Hundred Drums Wangala Dance Festival”.Thus, the first-ever Hundred Drums Wangala Festival was successfully organized on December 6 and 7, 1976 at Asananggre, the headquarters of Rongram Development Block. Since then, the Festival is being celebrated in the second week of November every year and over the years it has grown under the patronage of the Government of Meghalaya and nurtured by the Hundred Drums Wangala Festival Organisation.Presently, the Organisation is being led by Mr. Leander K Marak as its President, while the Block Development Officer, Rongram, Ms. Mary T. Sangma is the Ex-Officio Secretary.

About Wangala Festival

The Wangala is the most significant post harvest festival of the Garos generally held in the month of October to November. It is a "Thanksgiving" ceremony to Misi Saljong, also known as Pattigipa Ra'rongipa (The Great Giver) for having blessed the human beings with rich harvest of the season. A day ahead of the Wangala, a ritual called the Rugala is performed by the Nokma (A village Chief) and in this ritual, the offerings of the first hand special rice-beer alongwith cooked rice and the vegetables are given to Misi Saljong, the Giver. On the next day, the Nokma performs Cha'chat So'a ceremony or the burning of incence at the central pillar of his house to mark the beginning of the weeklong Wangala Festival. The festival has been practised traditionally by the Garos from times immemorial. It is performed annually in almost all the non-Christian of Garo Hills, but the time and dates of celebration vary from village to village.
However, due to the impact of modern civilisation and foreign culture, the Wangala which is the cultural identity of the Garos could be seen fast disappearing. So in order to protect and preserve,and promote this culture identity, a group of Garo intellectuals put their heads together in a meeting and decided to organise the "Wangala Festival" on modern lines. A group of 30 dancers with tendrums would form a contingent and 300 dancers would make up the "Hundred Drums Wangala Festival".
The first Hundred Drums Wangala Festival was successfully organised on December 6 and 7, 1976 at Asanang, the Headquarter of Rongram Development Block, 18kms.. from Tura. Since then, the Hundred Drums Wangala is being organised in the second week of November every year and the Festival has grown over the years under the patronage of the Government of Meghalaya and nurtured Festival Organisarion.

How to get to Tura:

How to get to Tura:
The nearest International Airport is the Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport at Kolkata.Flights to Guwahati: Flights to Guwahati from Kolkata are available up to about 2 pm everyday. Indian, Jet Airways, SpiceJet, Kingfisher Airlines, Deccan and Indigo are some of the airlines that service this route. Direct flights are also available from New Delhi.Trains to Guwahati: Guwahati is also well connected by rail.
Trains are available everyday to Guwahati from Kolkata’s Howrah Station. This journey will take you minimum 18 hours. Guwahati also has direct trains from New Delhi. The Rajdhani Express takes about 36 hours one way. Trains from the South India are Bangalore-Guwahati Express, Chennai-Guwahati Express and Guwahati-Trivandrum Express.
By Road to Guwahati: Buses ply from Kolkata to Guwahati via Siliguri. You have the option of breaking you journey to stay overnight at Siliguri.
Guwahati to Tura:
There are three ways to get to Tura:
(1) Pawan Hans helicopter service run by Meghalaya Transport Corporation: Flies every Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays From Guwahati to Tura the fare is Rs.1525/- and from Shillong to Tura is Rs.1200/- only.
(2) Buses that start early morning (latest 7 am) or late evening (latest 8:30 pm). This journey will take you 7 hours. The tickets are not more than Rs 250 per head. The bus stations are at Beltola Bust Terminal
(3) Sumo (jeep) services are available twice a day (7 am and 2pm) from Baralumukh in Guwahati. These tickets will cost about Rs 300 per head and the journey will take 5 hours.
Where to Stay:
1 - Rikman Continental, Tura Bazaar. Ph: +91 3651 220759/ 223858. Room rates range from Rs 750 to Rs 2800. Hotel and Bar attached.
2 – Hotel Sundare (pronounce: soon – daa – ray), Tura Bazaar. Ph: N/A. Room rates range from Rs 650– Rs 2500.
3 – Orchid Lodge, Araimile, New Tura. Ph: +91 3651 232039. Room rates range: N/A
4 – Hotel Nataraj, Tura Bazaar, Tura. Ph: +91 3651 223189. Budget hotel.
5. Bed and Breakfast:
One can stay with a Garo family as a paying guest which will be arranged on request.
Places to see:Garo Hills is yours to discover. It is still one of the most untouched places of North East India. The indigenous people of this tribal area are A’chiks – most popularly known as Garos. Their language falls under the Tibeto-Burman Category. Besides discovering the unique traditions and culture of the people, there are many things to explore geographically and environmentally.
1 – Hullock Gibbons: Garo Hills is one of the very few places on this planet that still has a significant number of hillock gibbons in the wild.
2 – Balpakram: Popularly known as Grand Canyon of the East "Balpakram" is a National Park.
3 – Rongbang Dare: This waterfalls in East Garo hills is simply spectacular makes a wonderful picnic spot.
4 – Dombe Wari: This waterfalls in South Garo hills is not easily accessible. The trek to this waterfalls from the nearest motorable village Emangre will take you about 4 hours. Ask your guide about the beautiful folklore that tells you about how this waterfalls was formed.
5 – Pelga Falls: Must see one of the most beautiful water falls of Garo Hills; besides others like Rongbang Dare etc.
6 – Siju Caves, Nengkong Caves: These limestone caves are famous for their pristine interiors. However, only a few caves have been explored and chartered. The rest of it is uncharted because the caves run very deep and far.
7- Siju Bird Sactuary: Varities of migratory birds etc can be found here.
8 – The 100 Drums Festival at Asanang: Post harvest Festival of the Garos
9 – Flora: The Venus Fly Trap and the Pitcher plant
10 – Fauna: Elephants, tigers, clouded leopard, leopard, leopard cats, birds, etc.
11. Nokrek Biosphere Reserve Forest