Chief minister Mukul Sangma hands over the Rs 14-lakh cheque to a member of the committee in West Garo Hills on Friday. Picture by UB Photos

Shillong, Oct. 28: Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma today donated a cheque for Rs 14 lakh to the organising committee of the three-day Wangala festival, which will begin in the West Garo Hills on November 10.

Addressing a news conference, the chief minister, who also holds the tourism portfolio, said Meghalaya should take the lead among other northeastern states in attracting tourists and the annual Wangala festival would help achieve this.

P.R. Marak, the ex-officio secretary of the organising committee, said the annual festival is the most important harvest festival of the Garos.

Wangala, or the 100 drums festival, is a thanksgiving ceremony to Misi Saljong, also known as Pattigipa Rarongipa (the great giver), for the rich harvest of the region.

The rituals and dances in various villages are performed weeks ahead of the main Wangala dance at Asanang in West Garo Hills.

A day ahead of the weeklong festival, a ritual called rugalia is performed by the nokma (village chief), where offerings of the first special rice beer along with cooked rice and vegetables are given to Misi Saljong.

The nokma performs chachat so ceremony (or the burning of incense sticks) at the central pillar of his house to mark the beginning of the festival. Various troupes assemble and the festival culminates at Asanang.

The first 100 drums Wangala festival was organised in 1976 and since then the festival has grown over the years under the patronage of Meghalaya tourism department.

The chief minister said the tourism department, in its endeavour to preserve, protect and promote the cultural identity of Wangala, has provided financial support towards the growth of the festival.

According to the chief minister, Wangala continues to attract visitors within India and abroad and therefore it needs to be promoted.

He said the government is committed to popularising culture tourism by helping those who promote the art and dance forms of Meghalaya.

Sangma also said the government is planning to frame a policy to preserve the rich heritage and traditional values of the state. Several schemes will be launched to make Meghalaya a number one tourist destination, he added.

The chief minister said the government would support the initiative of the people to make Meghalaya a popular tourist destination, as showcasing the rich heritage and traditional values of the state would also bring economic benefits for the overall growth of the state.

He also said the Northeast should be packaged as one entity to attract more tourists and Meghalaya can take lead in integrating other tourist destinations in the Northeast for the sake of the visitors.

“We have to promote tourism in such a way that the tourists visiting the Northeast can also turn to neighbouring countries like Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Thailand,” Sangma added.