Wangala Festival Marks 50 Years with 1,000 Drums in Meghalaya

Tura, Meghalaya: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the Wangala Festival Golden Jubilee marked a major cultural milestone as the state celebrated 50 years of one of the Garo community’s most important festivals.

Sangma said the organised festival began in 1976 and has grown into a major celebration of Garo culture, identity and tradition. To commemorate the 50th anniversary, organisers expanded the traditional 100-drum performance to an impressive 1,000 drums this year.

The Meghalaya government had announced that the Golden Jubilee celebrations would be held from November 11 to 14, 2026, at West Garo Hills under the theme “Our Culture, Our Identity.”

1,000 Drums Mark Golden Jubilee

The state government said the 2026 edition was designed as a special 1,000 Drums Wangala Festival, replacing the customary 100-drum presentation to mark five decades of the organised festival.

Wangala is traditionally celebrated by the Garo community as a post-harvest thanksgiving festival, bringing together traditional music, dance and community rituals.

Sangma said the four-day celebration saw the participation of several dignitaries. He mentioned the presence of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the Meghalaya Governor and Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat during different stages of the programme.

The Meghalaya government said the Golden Jubilee was also intended to encourage younger generations to remain connected with Garo traditions and help promote the community’s cultural heritage on a wider platform.

Sangma said he was pleased with the scale of the celebrations and described the event as a fitting commemoration of the festival’s 50-year journey.