TURA, Nov 12: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said Assam and Meghalaya shared deep historical, cultural and emotional ties that went beyond geographical boundaries.
He said this while attending the golden jubilee celebrations of the traditional Wangala festival of the Garo community at the Garo Heritage Village in West Garo Hills district.
Sarma attended the 50th Wangala festival as the chief guest. Around 1,000 drums and 2,000 dancers took part in the programme.
He said the festival celebrated the shared heritage of Assam and Meghalaya and offered an opportunity to strengthen ties between the people of the two states.
Sarma urged the younger generation to preserve their mother tongue, traditions and cultural identity while embracing modern education, technology and employment opportunities. He said the festival should be recognised as a living expression of indigenous knowledge, traditional beliefs and communities' relationship with nature, rather than merely as a cultural event or tourist attraction.
The festival began in 1975 at Chandmari playground in Tura with only 10 drums. It was later expanded into the Festival of 100 Drums on the advice of former Meghalaya chief minister Captain Williamson A Sangma.
Wangala, also known as the Festival of 100 Drums, is the main harvest festival of the Garo community. It is observed to express gratitude to nature for agricultural produce through traditional music, dance and rituals.
The festival, being held from November 11 to 14, was also attended by Meghalaya Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Timothy D Shira and Wangala Festival Celebration Committee president Ronald Rekman Sangma, among others.
