Shillong, Nov 11: In its golden jubilee celebration, the Wangala Festival has turned from participation of 100 drums to that of 1,000 drums, which was a vision of former Lok Sabha Speaker and National People’s Party (NPP) founder PA Sangma.
Disclosing this while inaugurating the golden jubilee celebrations at Wangala A’dam, Chibragre in Tura, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday said declared that the vision of PA Sangma to celebrate with 1,000 drums had finally been fulfilled.
“Today it gives me great satisfaction to bring to fruition the vision of Late PA Sangma by celebrating the Golden Jubilee with 1000 Drums,” Sangma said, as 1,000 drummers and 3,000 dancers opened the four-day festival under the theme “Rhythm of 1,000 Drums.”
The Chief Minister fondly remembered the pioneers of the biggest festival of the A’chiks – Captain A Sangma, Sanford K Marak, Dr Bernard K. Marak, Probin Raksam, Hubert K Sangma, Liander K Mara, Herik S Sangma, Felix R Sangma and Garnet Mangsang.
“We should remember them on this special day and thank them and even though they are not present with us anymore, the Government would like to felicitate them posthumously on this momentous occasion,” he said.
He also thanked the A’king Nokma of the area for generously donating the land for the festival.
Sangma said Meghalaya is developing and growing, but it is necessary to preserve identity, culture and roots even as development takes place.
He observed that many developed countries face conflict and have no peace because they have forgotten their identity, and assured all support of the government to preserve and promote the State’s identity, culture and tradition.
“This is our identity and we should preserve it, support it, help it and feel proud about it,” he said.
He informed that the government has funded Rs 20 crore through the PWD for development of the Wangala A’dam, with another Rs 6 crore towards organising the festival this year.
He said attempting the Guinness World Records required huge expenditure, but the government sanctioned it considering its importance and significance.
The inauguration was attended by Mehtab Chandee A Sangma, MLA, Gambegre; Arbinstone B Marak, MLA, Selsella; Jimmy D Sangma, MLA, Tikrikilla; Sanjay A Sangma, MLA, Mahendraganj; GHADC CEM Dormonath Sangma; MDCs of GHADC, religious leaders and district officials.
The Golden Jubilee celebration is being held at Wangala A’dam, Garo Heritage Village, Chibragre, from November 11 to 14, 2026.
The Hundred Drums Wangala Festival was first held at Asanang on December 6 and 7, 1976, bringing village troupes from different parts of Garo Hills onto a common cultural platform.
It was started when traditional village-level Wangala celebrations were declining in several areas, to preserve Garo rituals, music, dance and other cultural practices through regular community participation.
The traditional format consisted of ten contingents, each comprising about 10 drummers and 30 dancers, together presenting approximately 100 drums and 300 dancers, giving the festival its name.
The festival was organised as a competitive event, with contingents representing an A’king or community-owned clan area, presenting traditional drumming, coordinated dances, attire and performance skills, accompanied by dama, gongs, flutes and other wind and percussion instruments.
The programme gradually expanded to include Ajia, Doroa, Grika, folk-song competitions, oral traditions, indigenous games and sports, traditional food, handloom and handicraft exhibitions.
In 2020, the festival was shifted from Asanang to Wangala A’dam at Chibragre, near Tura.
By the 49th edition in 2025, the festival had become a major cultural and tourism event, drawing visitors from India and abroad and involving younger performers.
This year’s four-day programme includes the Thousand Drums presentation, Rugala, Cha’chat So’a, indigenous games and sports, folk-song competitions, oral traditions, traditional food and other cultural performances.
Special invited troupes from Garo communities in Assam, Nagaland, Tripura, Karbi Anglong and other neighbouring areas will participate.
Groups representing the Ruga, Chibok, Megam and Atong communities have also been invited.
More than 300 exhibition stalls are proposed for indigenous food, traditional attire, ornaments, handicrafts, local products and souvenirs, creating market opportunities for artisans, producers and local entrepreneurs.
Important high-profile dignitaries are expected to visit the festival in the next three days, with footfall of domestic and international tourists increasing.
