Wangala: A Post-Harvest Thanksgiving to Misi Saljong
Wangala is a post-harvest festival of the Garo community, celebrated as a thanksgiving to Misi Saljong — the Sun God (Patigipa Ra’ruragipa) — for blessing the people with abundant harvest and prosperity throughout the year. Considered one of the most important Meghalaya festivals, the Garo harvest celebration marks the arrival of winter and becomes a season of gratitude, renewal, and cultural pride for the Garos.
As someone who grew up Garo and has attended the Wangala Festival since childhood, I always feel a certain warmth whenever the festival season arrives. The sound of drums, the smell of freshly prepared rice beer, the colorful dakmanda — everything reminds me of who we are and where we come from. The festival is not just a celebration; it is a living expression of Garo culture, gratitude, identity, and community.
If you ever spend time with Garos — whether in the misty hills of Meghalaya, Assam, Tripura, Nagaland, Bangladesh, or even among small Garo communities abroad — you’ll notice something beautiful: this traditional festival isn’t just an event. It’s the biggest Garo harvest festival, a feeling, a memory, a celebration, and a deep reminder of identity.
Every year between September and December, the Garo community prepares for what many lovingly call the “happy season.” Elders revisit stories of the old Nokpante, mothers bring out traditional garments, and children wait eagerly to join the Garo traditional dance for the first time. Even Garos living far from home — in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, or abroad — feel a strong pull toward their roots as the harvest celebration approaches.
When I stand among the people, watching the rhythmic beats of the Dama, the melodies of the Adil and the deep sound of the Rang echo across the fields, it feels like the land is breathing with us. Our elders often say the Garo cultural celebration is when the past, present, and future of the Garos meet in one place.
This harvest celebration is not just a cultural event but also a significant identity marker for the Garo community, showcasing their deep connection with agriculture, the land, and traditional rhythms.
Wangala in the Songsarek Era: The Traditional Celebration
Although I did not live during the earliest Songsarek times, I grew up hearing vivid stories from my grandparents, parents, elders, and friends who experienced the older style of the traditional celebration. Years later, when I visited a Songsarek village myself, I finally understood the depth of those stories.
The quietness of the village, the smell of burning incense, the priest (Kamal) leading the rituals, the chanting, and the sacred offerings — it all felt deeply spiritual. It reminded me that this sacred tradition is not just a cultural event; it is a living tradition deeply rooted in the traditional Garo Songsarek villages who were animists.
Before modernization, the traditional Garo festival was deeply spiritual and community-centered. It was celebrated either:
- in the courtyard of the A’king Nokma (custodian of the A’king land), or
- in the courtyard of the Village Nokma (chieftain of the village).
Both courtyards were sacred spaces where Garo rituals began as part of the festival celebrations.
Rituals and Ceremonies
The traditional Wangala Festival always opened with two important rituals performed by the Kamal (priest):
Rugala
The pouring of rice beer as an offering to Misi Saljong, thanking him for sunlight, rain, life, and the year’s harvest. This ritual is one of the oldest Garo traditions during the harvest festival.
Cha’chat So’a
The burning of incense inside the Nokma’s house, allowing the smoke to drift outward and purify the courtyard.
Standing there during these rituals, I felt the presence of the ancestors in the silence, the smoke, and the soil — a memory that every community festival carries across generations.
Duration and Community Involvement
In the older Songsarek days, the celebration often lasted:
- 2–3 days, and sometimes
- up to a week, depending on village customs
Food, rice beer, and meat were prepared days in advance. Neighboring villages sometimes joined the celebration. Even today, villages like Sadolpara (West Garo Hills) and many Songsarek villages in India and Bangladesh continue the original form of the village celebration.
Wangala in the Modern Era: The Rise of the 100 Drums Wangala
With modernization, cultural revival, and tourism, the Wangala Festival evolved into larger community celebrations — without replacing the traditional village Wangala.
Most people today know the Festival through the famous 100 Drums Wangala, a grand cultural showcase of Garo dance, music, and heritage.
The 100 Drums Wangala: A Cultural Showcase (Not a Different Festival)
Many misunderstand the 100 Drums event as a separate festival. In truth, it is simply an expanded showcase of the traditional Wangala Festival, featuring:
- large dance contingents
- more than 100 drums (and sometimes more)
- vibrant attire
- rich cultural performances
Origins
- Began on 6–7 December 1976 at Asanang
- Grew annually up to the 42nd edition in 2019
- Featured troupes from across Garo Hills, Assam, Nagaland, Tripura, and Bangladesh
Shift to Chibragre
From the 43rd edition (2020) onward, the festival moved to: Chibragre – Wangala A’dam (Garo Heritage Village), 15 km from Tura
From the 44th edition (2021) onward, it became the permanent venue
Chibragre, with its wide riverside landscape, became the ideal location to host this iconic celebration.
During the festival, the rhythmic beats of Dama drums, the Rang, and the powerful 100 Drums ceremony create a cultural atmosphere that draws thousands of visitors every year.
Learn more about Garo culture — Meghalaya Tourism official site
Where Wangala Is Celebrated
- Meghalaya – cultural heartland
- Assam – Goalpara, Kamrup, Karbi Anglong, Kokrajhar
- Tripura
- Nagaland
- Bangladesh – Mymensingh, Dhaka
- Other Indian cities – small Garo communities
- Abroad – wherever Garos live
Cultural details are also documented by NE India Cultural Department
To explore more cultural traditions of Meghalaya, you can also visit our Culture section
Traditional Dresses of Wangala
Women
Dakmanda, Daksari, Ganna, Kotip, Jewelry (Rikgitok/Ripok, Narikki, Naderong, Natapsi, Jaksan, Seng’ki)
Men
Gando, Pandra, Dokmanda, Do’me (feather headgear)
These attires remain integral to the Wangala Festival, reflecting rich Garo heritage.
Instruments Used in Wangala
The Dama remains the heartbeat of the festival. Additional instruments include:
Gong, Adil, Rang, Chigring, Bamboo flutes (Olongma, Otekra, Bangsi)
These musical elements bring alive the spirit of the Wangala Festival.
Feasts, Food, and Drinks
Foods
Nakam, Mi’chi, Minil sak, Kappa, Brenga — along with pork, chicken, fish, wild greens, vegetables
Drinks
Bitchi, Chu, Chu Me’chik (sweet), Chu Bipa (bitter)
During the Wangala Festival, food and drink become a joyous part of the harvest celebration.
Language and Songs
Wangala songs are performed in A·chik language. They:
- Praise Misi Saljong
- Celebrate harvest and gratitude
- Retell ancestral stories
These songs keep alive the cultural roots of the Wangala Festival.
Traditional Games
Wa’pong Sika, An’ding Oka, Jakpong Pe’a, Rongma Desusa’a, Chilsusa’a, Chigring competition, stone-lifting, sack race, and more — these communal games complement the Wangala Festival celebration.
Wangala: A Festival That Travels With Its People
Even Garos living far from their native hills continue to celebrate the festival. Sometimes they rent halls and play recorded Dama beats — but the pride, memories, and cultural identity remain.
Wangala travels with them, keeping alive the spirit of Garo heritage.
Why Wangala Still Matters Today
The Wangala Festival represents:
- Identity
- Belonging
- Gratitude
- Connection to land
- Cultural heritage
For younger Garos, it remains a living lesson of who they are and where they come from.
For me personally, no matter where I go, the sound of the Dama during the post-harvest festival always brings me home.
Conclusion
Today, the Wangala Festival continues to inspire cultural pride and unity among the Garo people, preserving heritage for future generations.
Wangala may be a harvest festival, but it has become much more. Whether you stand among the powerful rhythm of a hundred drums in Garo Hills or watch a small Wangala dance in a distant city — the feeling is the same: the heartbeat of a people who carry their culture with pride.
For the Garos, Wangala is not just a tradition — it is home.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is Wangala Festival?
Wangala is the post-harvest thanksgiving festival of the Garo community, celebrated to honor Misi Saljong for a bountiful harvest, prosperity, and community unity.
2. When is Wangala celebrated?
Wangala is generally celebrated between September and December, depending on village customs and regional practices.
3. Is Wangala and 100 Drums Wangala the same?
No. The traditional Wangala is the community’s ritual festival. The 100 Drums Wangala is a modern cultural showcase built around traditional Wangala, featuring large dance and drum contingents.
4. Where is Wangala celebrated?
Wangala is celebrated across Meghalaya, Assam, Tripura, Nagaland, Bangladesh, and wherever Garo communities live — including urban areas and abroad.
5. What are the main rituals of Wangala Festival?
Key rituals include Rugala (offering rice beer) and Cha’chat So’a (burning incense), both led by the Kamal priest in the Nokma’s courtyard.
6. What instruments are used during Wangala?
Primary instruments: Dama, Adil, Rang, Gong, Chigring, and traditional bamboo flutes. Dama remains the heartbeat of the festival.
7. What traditional dresses are worn during Wangala?
Women wear Dakmanda, Daksari, Ganna, Kotip along with traditional jewelry. Men wear Gando, Pandra, Dokmanda, and Do’me feather headgear.
8. What food and drinks are prepared during Wangala?
Foods: Nakam, Mi’chi, Minil sak, Kappa, Brenga, meat, fish, wild greens. Drinks: Bitchi, Chu, Chu Me’chik (sweet), Chu Bipa (bitter).
9. Why is Wangala Festival important to the Garos?
It preserves cultural identity, fosters unity, connects people to their land and ancestors, and celebrates community heritage through generations.
