Wangala Festival 2023: Wishes and Messages to Share on 100 Drums Festival of Meghalaya

Wangala Festival of Meghalaya is a prominent celebration among the Garos of the state. It is a harvest celebration conducted in praise of Saljong, the Sun God. This festival symbolises the culmination of a time of toil that results in a successful harvest from the fields. It also denotes the start of winter. Also known as a 100 drums festival, it is an occasion when tribals make sacrifices to the Sun God. It is usually celebrated for two days, although it can go up to a week. This year, the Wangala Festival will be celebrated on Friday, November 10.

All You Need To Know About The 100 Drums Festival of Meghalaya

1. The first day of the celebration is marked by a ritual called Ragula, which is held in the chief’s residence. The second day is referred to as Kakkat.
2. People dressed in bright costumes and feathered headgear dance to the beat of music performed on long oval-shaped drums.
3. It is the time to unwind, and for days, the hills and valleys echo with the astonishing pounding of drums.
4. The popular dance styles performed during the festival include minor variants, with the fundamental motif being a queue of two parallel lines – one of men and the other of ladies clothed in their festive finery.
5. Young and elderly alike participate in the celebrations with equal zeal.
6. The line moves forward in rhythmic harmony as the men beat the drums. The ‘orchestra’ of men included drums, gongs, and flutes, accentuated by the booming melody of a buffalo horn flute.
7. The performers have a distinct sense of speed, and the intense dance makes an indelible impact on the viewer.
8. While Tula town in Meghalaya is the hub of the Wangala celebration, the holiday is celebrated in its purest form in the West Garo Hills.
9. The celebrations involve presenting local rice beer to the Sun God, dressing up in colourful traditional clothing, and dancing to the rhythm of 100 drums.
10. The Wangala Festival is a means of preserving and promoting Garo cultural identity in Meghalaya. This is an approach to showcase the region’s culture and traditions.

Wangala Festival 2023: Wishes & Messages

1. Happy Wangala Festival to the people of Meghalaya – May the new year bring everyone success and pleasure.

2. Happy Wangala Festival to all our Garo brothers and sisters. May this sacred event bring us love, peace, joy, and happiness.

3. The people of Meghalaya wish you a very Happy Wangala Festival. Have a rich harvest and be blessed at all times.

4. It is time to celebrate the fruits of our effort, therefore let us share our happiness and spread warmth all around us. Best wishes for the Wangala Festival 2023.