Boko, November 9: Meghalaya is set to host the golden jubilee edition of the Hundred Drums Wangala Festival, one of the most significant traditional celebrations of the Garo community, from November 11 to 14, 2026.
The four-day cultural festival will be held at Garo Heritage Village, Wangala A’dam, Chibagre, in West Garo Hills district. The 50th edition will showcase the rich cultural heritage, traditional music, folk dances and indigenous customs of the Garo community.
A major attraction of this year’s celebration will be the special Thousand Drums performance, highlighting the musical and cultural traditions of the Garos.
The festival is traditionally celebrated after the harvest season as a thanksgiving ceremony dedicated to Misi Saljong, the deity regarded as the supreme giver of agricultural prosperity.
Cultural Celebrations to Begin on November 11
Preparations for the golden jubilee celebration have already begun, with Wangala troupes starting to arrive from November 7. A 10-km Wangala-thon is also part of the pre-festival activities.
On November 10, participating troupes will assemble at Wangala A’dam in Chibagre for orientation and rehearsals ahead of the Thousand Drums performance.
The inaugural programme on November 11 will be attended by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma as the Chief Guest.
The opening day’s events will include the release of the souvenir magazine ‘Chirongdik’, an opening prayer, presentation of mementoes, traditional cultural performances and an exhibition dance by the Karbi Anglong Wangala troupe.
A special felicitation programme will also honour the pioneers and former leaders of the Hundred Drums Wangala Cultural Festival Committee (HDWFC).
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to Attend on November 12
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will attend the festival as the Chief Guest on November 12.
The day’s programme will feature traditional prayers, welcome addresses, the Ruga dance, the Thousand Drums performance and the Rugala ceremony.
Special dance competitions, indigenous games and prize distribution will also form part of the celebrations.
On November 13, Meghalaya Governor Chandrashekhar H. Vijayashankar will attend the festival as the Chief Guest.
The third day will feature traditional Chachat So’a ceremonies, folk songs, performances by the Kids Wangala Troupe and the Thousand Drums presentation.
Guinness World Records Attempt on the Final Day
The grand concluding programme on November 14 will be attended by Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat as the Chief Guest.
One of the major highlights of the final day will be a special attempt to enter the Guinness Book of World Records.
The programme will also feature traditional prayers, cultural performances, the Thousand Drums presentation and a dance competition involving ten contingents.
The four-day celebration will conclude with prize distribution and performances by various artists.
Wangala: The Traditional Harvest Festival of the Garos
Popularly known as the Festival of Hundred Drums, Wangala holds immense cultural and spiritual significance for the Garo community.
The festival is traditionally observed after the harvest as an expression of gratitude to Misi Saljong for blessing the community with agricultural prosperity.
According to Garo traditions, the celebrations begin with the Rugala ritual, during which the Nokma, or village chief, offers freshly brewed rice beer, cooked rice and vegetables to the deity.
This is followed by the Chachat So’a ceremony, which marks the beginning of the main festivities.
Wangala is celebrated across Garo villages, although the dates and duration of the celebrations vary from one village to another.
The 50th Hundred Drums Wangala Festival is expected to provide an important platform for showcasing the indigenous traditions and cultural identity of the Garo community while attracting tourists, cultural enthusiasts and visitors from different parts of the country.
