Meghalaya's Wangala festival aims for Guinness World Record with 1,000 drums
Organisers of the golden jubilee post-harvest festival in West Garo Hills are targeting a world record during the four-day event.
The golden jubilee edition of the Wangala Festival begins on Wednesday in the Garo Hills of Meghalaya, according to The Assam Tribune. Organisers are aiming for a spot in the Guinness World Records by attempting a 1,000-drum recital during the four-day event.
Wangala troupes from Nagaland, Assam, Tripura, and other North Eastern States are converging at Wangala A’dam near Chibragre village in West Garo Hills district. While the event is known as the ‘Hundred Drums Wangala Festival’, the number of drums is expected to reach 1,000 this year.
The festival is a religious and cultural celebration of the Garo community dedicated to the Sun God, Misi Saljong, to express gratitude for a bountiful harvest. Protocol officer Albert Sangma said cultural troupes began arriving at the venue on November 7.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma will attend the inauguration on Wednesday as the chief guest. The second day on November 12 will be attended by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, while Meghalaya Governor Chandrashekhar H Vijayashankar will be the chief guest on November 13.
The concluding ceremony on November 14 will feature Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat as the chief guest. The special attempt for the Guinness World Record entry will be made on this final day.