->Sobai Naphlang at 06:29, 25 October 2021

2021-10-25T06:29:30Z

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{{for|the town in Burkina Faso|Wangala, Burkina Faso}}
{{More citations needed|date=October 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2020}}
[[File:A 'Wangala' drummer of Garo Tribe of Meghalaya pose for the photo at the Republic Day Folk Dance Festival 2004 which was inaugurated by the President Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam in New Delhi on January 24, 2004.jpg|thumb|A 'Wangala' drummer of Garo Tribe of Meghalaya at the Republic Day Folk Dance Festival 2004 which was inaugurated by the President Dr. [[A. P. J. Abdul Kalam]] in New Delhi on January 24, 2004]]

'''Wangala''' is also called the festival of "The Hundred Drums", a [[harvest festival]] celebrated by the [[Garo (tribe)|Garo]] tribe, who live in [[Meghalaya]], [[Nagaland]] and [[Assam]] in [[India]] and Greater [[Mymensingh]] in [[Bangladesh]]. In this post harvest festival, they give thanks to Misi Saljong the [[sun god]], for blessing the people with a rich harvest. Wangala is celebrated in the months from September to December, with different villages setting different dates for the occasion.

==History of modern Wangala==

The first Hundred Drums Wangala Festival was organized on 6 and 7 December 1976 at Asanang, near the Rongram C&RD Block Office, 18 km from Tura, India. Since then, it has been celebrated every year. The festival has grown so big as to include dance troupes from outside Garo Hills such as [[Bangladesh]] and [[Karbi Anglong]], with a sizeable amount of prize money up for grabs awarded to the best performing dance troupe. The 100 Drums Festival is a state-sponsored event, attracting many local, national and international tourists every year.

<ref>
[[File:Wangala Dance.jpg|thumb|Wangala Dance]]
</ref>
==The Celebrations==
Wangala is traditionally celebrated for two to three days - or up to a week - by two or three collaborating villages; though recently it has been celebrated for one day in metropolitan areas as an attempt to conserve the ancient heritage of the [[Garo people|Garo]] tribe and to expose the younger generation to their roots. True traditional styles of celebrating Wangala can be found in remote "Songsarek" ([[animistic]]) villages such as Sadolpara in [[West Garo Hills]] district of [[Meghalaya]], where people who worship the old gods still persist in their way of life; all the while rejecting [[Christianity]]. A much more hyped and commercialised variant of Wangala can be observed in the 100 Drums Festival held at
Asanang in West Garo Hills, Meghalaya, where performers (who may or may not be [[Christians]] and not Songsarek) are invited from all over Garo Hills, and even from far off places such as [[Karbi Anglong]], [[Tripura]] and [[Bangladesh]] which have sizeable pockets of Garo inhabitants. This mega event is held for three days and is a host to various fan favourites such as sports, food, art and culture. [[Tura, Meghalaya|Tura]], the cultural, financial and de facto political heartland of the [[Garos]], is mainly represented by the students of [[Christian Girls' Higher Secondary School, Tura]] (which teaches the dance to its students as an essential part of the curriculum) at every 100 Drums Festival.

''Rugala'' (lit. The Pouring of [[rice beer]]) and ''Cha·chat So·a'' (lit. [[Incense]] burning) are the rituals performed on the first day by the priest, who is known as "Kamal". These rituals are performed inside the house of the ''Nokma'' (chieftain i.e. the husband of the woman who holds power over an a'king) of the village. ''Dama Gogata'', the dance with drums, flutes and assorted brass instruments by men and women in colourful dresses and proud headgear - a picture which is synonymous with visuals of Wangala - is performed on the last day of the days-long celebration.

During Wangala, people young and old dress in their colourful garments (''Dakmanda", Daksari'', or ''Gando'') and feathered headgear (''do'me'') and dance to music played on long, oval-shaped drums (''Dama'').

''Katta Doka'' (talking in a singing style/traditional tribal [[rapping]]), ''Ajia'', ''Dani Doka'' (describing Wangala by singing), ''Chambil Mesaa'' or the Pomelo Dance are performed during these days.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080427012413/http://megtourism.gov.in/wangala.html Wangala Dance], government of Meghalaya
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080426173816/http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2004/01/02/event.htm] Garos Celebrate Wanna: After Seventy Years (The Daily Star)
* [http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=104664] Traditions and heritage of the Garos on the wane (The Daily Star)
*[http://megtourism.gov.in/festival.html]
*[https://www.academia.edu/5412473/Performing_the_Garo_Nation_Garo_Wangala_Dancing_between_Faith_and_Folklore]
*[http://m.newshunt.com/india/english-newspapers/the-assam-tribune/news/wangala-festival-celebrated-in-garo-hills_35909798/c-in-l-english-n-theassam-ncat-news]
*[https://books.google.fr/books?id=n9NoAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA45&lpg=PA45]
*{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/magazine/The-Hundred-Drums-Wangala/article15616905.ece | title=The Hundred Drums Wangala | date=24 November 2012 | newspaper=The Times of India | first=Pheroze L. | last=Vincent | accessdate=5 March 2020 }}

[[Category:Harvest festivals]]
[[Category:Culture of Meghalaya]]
[[Category:Festivals in India]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Meghalaya]]
[[Category:September observances]]
[[Category:November observances]]
[[Category:December observances]]
[[Category:Hindu festivals in India]]

Wangala - Revision history

->Sobai Naphlang at 06:29, 25 October 2021