Wangala
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Wangala (also known as Hundred Drums, Wanna, Wanna Rongchuwa) is a harvest festival celebrated by the Garo tribe, who lives in Meghalaya, Assam in India and Greater Mymensingh in Bangladesh. They give thanks to the God and Goddess, called Misi Saljong, also known as Pattigipa Ra'rongipa (Sun-God), for blessing the people with a rich harvest. Wangala is celebrated in the months from September to December. The 2016 date is November 11.[1]
History of Wangala
The first Hundred Drums Wangala Festival was organised on December 6 and 7, 1976 at Asanang, the Headquarters of Rongram Development Block, 18 km from Tura in India. The first Wangala in Bangladesh was celebrated in October 1978 at Biroi Dakuni Catholic Mission, Haluaghat, Mymensigh. In 1994 Dhaka Metropolitan celebrated its first Wangala. In 2002 Biddyabill, Srimangal, and Moulovibaza celebrated the festival. In 2007 Chittagong Cathedral celebrated Wangala.
Wangala mainly celebrated at Dhaka Metropolitan city, Mymenshing District, Sylhet District and Pathorghata Catholic Church, Chittagong in Bangladesh.
The celebration
Wangala is celebrated for two or three days or up to a week, gathering two or three villages, though recently it has been celebrated for one day in metropolitan areas. Rugala and Sa·sat So·a are celebrated on the first day. These rituals are performed inside the house of the Nokma (chief) of the village. Dama Gogata is celebrated on the last day.
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), Ajea, Dani Doka (describing Wangala by singing), Chambil Mesaa or the Pomelo Dance are performed during these days.
Wangala the greatest traditional festival of Garo had been celebrated at every harvesting period in late autumn in the past. Garo people who were mainly dependent on agro-economy. Garo people do not use any agricultural products before thanking God of fertility Misi-Saaljong. We thank God of fertility, Misi-Saljong in Wangala through dancing, drinking chu, singing for three day & nights. Since the main occupation of Garo people in Bangladesh is farming and agriculture, we generally worship the Lord of farming and agriculture who bestows us with lots of blessings. The Wangala festival is therefore a grand Carnival to celebrate the harvest season. This is because after years long toil, the inhabitants find relief in seeing the golden harvest. So, we pay homage to the Lord who blesses us with such a splendid crops and sing and dance to offer worship to the great deity, source of unveiled power in this world.
After all Wanna is a Garo festival in every year Garo people celebrate this festival. Wanna is a meeting place of all Garo people.
References
External links
- Wangala Dance, government of Meghalaya
- video of a Gore Rowa dance[dead link], from 2007
- [1] Garos Celebrate Wanna: After Seventy Years (The Daily Star)
- [2] Traditions and heritage of the Garos on the wane (The Daily Star)
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