The Rugala ceremony marks the second day of the Hundred Drums Wangala Festival. Conducted by the Nokma (village chief), the ritual involves offerings of rice beer, cooked rice, and vegetables to Misi Saljong, the Great Giver, as a thanksgiving gesture.
About Wangala Festival
Celebrated by the Garos of Meghalaya, India.
A harvest festival in honor of Saljong, the Sun-god of fertility.
Marks the end of the agricultural season and the onset of winter.
- Significance
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- Expression of gratitude for a successful harvest.
- Symbolizes relaxation after the labor of harvest.
- Highlights the cultural and spiritual identity of the Garo people.
- Rituals
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- Known as the 100 Drums Festival due to the prominent use of drums.
- Ragula: Ceremony on the first day, performed in the chief’s house.
- Kakkat: Second-day celebration, more elaborate and communal.
- Celebrations and Dance Forms
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- Traditional attire with colorful costumes and feathered headgear.
- Dance performed in parallel lines – men in one line, women in another.
- Instruments: Drums, gongs, and buffalo horn flutes.
- Rhythmic movements create a resonant, mesmerizing atmosphere.
- Cultural Importance
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- Preserves and promotes the cultural heritage of the Garos.
- Celebrates the region’s unique traditions and unity.
- Demonstrates pride in Garo identity and customs.
The Wangala Festival is a harvest festival celebrated by the Garo community of Meghalaya, India. It is a post-harvest festival that marks the end of the agricultural season and the beginning of winter.
