Wangala Festival 2026: The 100 Drums Festival of the Garos

The Wangala festival is the post-harvest thanksgiving of the Garo (A·chik) people of Meghalaya, held to honour Misi Saljong, the sun god of fertility. Its best-known public form is the 100 Drums Wangala Festival near Tura in West Garo Hills, usually held in the first half of November. The 2026 event is the 50th edition, and organising committee reports put it on 12 to 14 November 2026 at the Wangala A·dam, Chibragre.

Garo villages have celebrated Wangala for generations after the jhum (shifting cultivation) harvest. The large staged festival began in 1976 at Asanang, about 18 km from Tura. Today it brings together dance troupes, rows of long dama drums, feathered headgear and competitions that draw visitors from across the Northeast.

Key takeaways

• The Wangala festival thanks Misi Saljong, the sun god, for the harvest.
• The first 100 Drums Wangala Festival took place at Asanang in December 1976.
• The 49th edition ran from 5 to 8 November 2025 at Chibragre near Tura.
• The 2026 Golden Jubilee edition is reported for 12 to 14 November 2026.
• Meghalaya needs no Inner Line Permit for Indian tourists.

Wangala festival at a glance

Detail	Information
Community	Garo (A·chik) people
Deity honoured	Misi Saljong, the sun god
Type	Post-harvest thanksgiving festival
Main public event	100 Drums Wangala Festival
Venue	Wangala A·dam, Chibragre, Asanang area, West Garo Hills
Distance from Tura	About 18 km
2026 dates (reported)	12 to 14 November 2026
Edition in 2026	50th (Golden Jubilee)
Organiser	Hundred Drums Wangala Festival Committee, with state support
Entry permit	No ILP needed for Meghalaya

What is the Wangala festival?

Wangala is the most important social festival of the Garos. The Department of Arts and Culture, Government of Meghalaya, describes it as the final function of the farming year. It marks the end of hard labour in the fields and offers thanks to the gods before the lean season.

Garos also know the festival as Drua Wanbola or Wanna Rongchua. Traditionally, villages hold it only after all jhum crops reach the granary. Consequently, each village fixes its own dates, and village-level Wangala can fall anywhere from about September to December.

The festival also has a social role. Moreover, it has long been a time for young people to meet, sing and choose life partners. Families visit each other, share rice beer and food, and settle into the cooler months.

The meaning of Wangala and Misi Saljong

In Garo belief, Misi Saljong (also called Misi A·pipa Saljong Gatapa) taught people how to cultivate the land. He is associated with the sun and with fertility. Therefore, the Wangala festival is both a thank-you and a respectful farewell to the deities after the harvest.

Garo oral tradition also mentions Meenma Drongma, an underground deity. According to the state culture department, this spirit showed people how to perform Wangala correctly. The festival therefore links farming, faith and memory.

Many Garos today are Christian, while the older Songsarek faith keeps the full ritual cycle alive in some villages. As a result, the public 100 Drums event works mainly as a cultural celebration. Meanwhile, traditional rites continue at the village level.

Wangala festival rituals step by step

The village celebration follows a clear sequence. The exact order and length vary between villages, but the core rites stay similar.

Ritual	What happens	Meaning
Rugala	Rice beer is poured as an offering to Saljong	Thanks for the harvest
Cha·chat So·a	Incense is burnt in the Nokma’s house	Smoke stands for clouds; scattered rice for rain
Dama Gogata	Drumming and dancing with flutes and horns	The main public celebration
Grika	Warrior dance led by the Nokma	Strength and community pride
Rusrota	Closing rite for the granary	Safe keeping of the stored crop

Rugala: the pouring of rice beer

Rugala usually opens the festival. The Nokma, or village headman, pours rice beer from a special vessel as an offering. Rice paste marks the house posts as a sign of blessing. This rite is solemn and takes place inside the home.

Cha·chat So·a: burning incense

Cha·chat So·a follows, often on the same day. The Nokma burns incense in the house where the sacred drum hangs. Additionally, rice grains are scattered to signify rain. The rising smoke represents the clouds that will bring next year’s harvest.

Dama Gogata: drums and dance

The later days belong to music. Drummers play the long dama drums without pause, while gongs, flutes and buffalo-horn trumpets join in. Furthermore, dancers perform dozens of styles that imitate birds, animals and daily work. The state culture department mentions about fifty dance styles.

The 100 Drums Wangala Festival near Tura

The staged festival began on 6 and 7 December 1976 at Asanang, under Chief Minister Captain Williamson A. Sangma. Its aim was to bring village troupes together and keep the art form alive. Tosekgre village won that first competition.

Since then, the 100 Drums Wangala Festival has become an annual fixture in West Garo Hills. Village contingents compete in drumming and dancing before judges. In addition, the programme now includes folk songs, indigenous games, food contests and evening music.

Year	Edition	Dates	Venue
1976	1st	6 to 7 December	Asanang
2025	49th	5 to 8 November	Wangala A·dam, Chibragre
2026	50th (Golden Jubilee)	12 to 14 November (reported)	Wangala A·dam, Chibragre

In 2025, ten village contingents took part. Chidaogre won first place, Gondenggre came second and Sadolbra third. Tosekgre also returned after a gap of about 28 years, which drew wide local attention.

Wangala festival 2026: the Golden Jubilee edition

The 2026 Wangala festival marks 50 years of the 100 Drums event. After the 2025 finale, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma spoke of an expanded “1000 Drums Wangala” for the jubilee. Later, in May 2026, he said the state would work with the organising committee on the 50-year celebrations.

A Shillong Times report from June 2026 placed the festival at Wangala A·dam, Chibragre, from 12 to 14 November 2026. Tourism Minister Timothy D. Shira also met the committee to discuss support.

Dates and the final programme can change. Check Meghalaya Tourism, the West Garo Hills district administration or local news before you book travel.

Because this is a milestone year, expect bigger crowds than usual. Therefore, book rooms in Tura as early as possible.

Drums, dress and dance at the Wangala festival

The look and sound of the Wangala festival are unforgettable. Each element has a name and a role.

Element	Garo name	Description
Long drum	Dama	Long, tapering drum played in rows by male drummers
Sacred drum	Kram	Ritual drum kept in the Nokma’s house
Gong	Rang	Brass gong that keeps the rhythm
Horn and flute	Various local names	Buffalo-horn trumpets and bamboo flutes that join the drums
Headgear	Do·me	Feathered head-dress worn by dancers
Dress	Dakmanda, Daksari, Gando	Woven traditional garments

How the dance works

Dancers usually form two long lines. Men beat the dama drums while women move in step beside them. The lines advance and turn slowly, led by a senior drummer. Similarly, songs such as Ajia and Dani Doka carry stories, jokes and teasing verses between groups.

What judges look for

In the competition, troupes earn marks for rhythm, formation, costume and traditional correctness. Consequently, villages rehearse for weeks. Visitors see the best troupes on the final day.

How to reach the Wangala festival venue

Tura is the base for the Wangala festival. Chibragre and Asanang lie roughly 18 km away, a short drive on the Tura side of West Garo Hills.

From	Approx. distance to Tura	Typical travel time	Main options
Guwahati	About 220 km	6 to 7 hours	Shared Sumo, overnight bus, private taxi
Shillong	About 300 to 320 km	9 to 10 hours	Bus or taxi, often via Guwahati
Mendipathar railway station	About 90 km	2 to 3 hours	Taxi
Tura town	About 18 km to venue	30 to 40 minutes	Taxi or shared vehicle

By air

The nearest airport with regular flights is Guwahati (LGBI). Baljek Airport lies about 33 km from Tura. However, it has no scheduled commercial flights, so plan on Guwahati.

By road

Most visitors take a shared Sumo or overnight bus from Guwahati to Tura. Road times vary with traffic and weather. Our Guwahati to Shillong distance guide helps if you also plan to visit the Khasi Hills.

Permits and registration for Meghalaya

Meghalaya does not use the Inner Line Permit system. Therefore, Indian tourists can travel to Tura without a permit. Our inner line permit guide explains which Northeast states do need one.

However, Meghalaya tightened visitor checks in 2025. Hotels and homestays must now register guest details through the state tourism system. As a result, carry a valid photo ID and share it at check-in. Foreign nationals should follow the usual registration rules and confirm them in advance.

Where to stay and budget tips

Tura has the widest choice of rooms in the Garo Hills. Options include the Meghalaya Tourism-run Hotel Rikman Continental and several private hotels and guesthouses. In contrast, the villages near the venue have few rooms.

• Book early, because the jubilee year will fill Tura’s hotels fast.
• Carry cash, since ATMs and card machines can be unreliable at the venue.
• Arrange transport to Chibragre in advance for the final day.
• Start early, because the best seats near the ground fill up by mid-morning.

Room rates change every season. Therefore, confirm prices directly with the property rather than relying on older listings.

Places to visit around the Wangala festival

A trip for the Wangala festival pairs well with the Garo Hills’ quieter attractions. Most can be done as day trips from Tura.

• Tura Peak: a hill above the town with a trek and wide valley views.
• Nokrek National Park: a biosphere reserve known for wild citrus and the highest peak in the Garo Hills.
• Siju Cave: one of the longest limestone caves in India, in South Garo Hills.
• Balpakram National Park: a remote plateau and canyon linked to Garo legend.
• Garo Heritage Village, Asanang: traditional houses close to the festival ground.

If you have more time, head east to the Khasi Hills. Sohra is famous for waterfalls and caves; see our Cherrapunji travel guide.

Wangala festival etiquette for visitors

Wangala is a living tradition, not just a show. Visitors should follow a few simple rules.

• Ask before photographing people up close, especially elders.
• Do not step into the performance lines during competition.
• Avoid touching ritual drums or offerings.
• Dress modestly and respect local customs at village rites.
• Buy handloom and food from local stalls to support families.

November is also a good month for wider Northeast travel. Plan the season with our best time to visit Northeast India guide. Moreover, you can combine the trip with the Hornbill Festival in Nagaland in early December.

Wangala festival compared with other harvest festivals

The Northeast has several harvest festivals. Each belongs to a different community and season.

Festival	Community and state	Usual timing	Main feature
Wangala	Garo, Meghalaya	October to November	100 Drums, dama drums
Kati Bihu	Assamese, Assam	Mid-October	Lamps in paddy fields
Hornbill Festival	Naga tribes, Nagaland	1 to 10 December	Multi-tribe showcase at Kisama
Nongkrem	Khasi, Meghalaya	Usually autumn	Dance at Smit near Shillong

For the quieter Assamese rite, read our guide to Kati Bihu.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Wangala festival celebrated in 2026?

The 100 Drums Wangala Festival for 2026 is reported for 12 to 14 November 2026 at Wangala A·dam, Chibragre, near Tura. It is the 50th Golden Jubilee edition. Village celebrations happen on their own dates after the harvest. Always confirm the final schedule with Meghalaya Tourism or the district administration before you travel.

Which god is worshipped during Wangala?

Garos honour Misi Saljong, the sun god of fertility, during Wangala. In Garo belief, Saljong taught people how to cultivate the land. The rituals thank him for the harvest and bid the deities a respectful farewell. The Nokma, or village headman, leads the key rites such as Rugala and Cha·chat So·a.

Why is it called the 100 Drums festival?

The public event features about one hundred dama drums played together by village troupes. The staged festival began in 1976 at Asanang to bring these troupes onto one ground. The name stuck, and it now describes the annual competition near Tura. In fact, the drumming is the event’s most striking sound.

Where is the 100 Drums Wangala held?

The recent editions have taken place at the Wangala A·dam in Chibragre, in the Asanang area of West Garo Hills. The venue lies about 18 km from Tura. Visitors usually stay in Tura and travel to the ground by taxi or shared vehicle. The Garo Heritage Village stands in the same area.

Do I need a permit to attend the Wangala festival?

Indian tourists do not need an Inner Line Permit for Meghalaya, so no special permit is required for the festival. However, hotels and homestays must register guest details with the state. Therefore, carry a valid photo ID and present it at check-in. Foreign nationals should confirm the latest registration rules before travelling.

How far is Tura from Guwahati?

Tura lies about 220 km by road from Guwahati. The journey usually takes six to seven hours, depending on traffic and road work. Shared Sumos run during the day, and overnight buses also operate. Guwahati’s LGBI airport is the nearest airport with regular flights, since Baljek Airport near Tura has no scheduled service.

What should I wear to the Wangala festival?

Wear comfortable shoes and light layers, as November days are mild and evenings turn cool. Carry a light jacket, a hat and sunscreen for the open ground. Dress modestly out of respect for the community. Additionally, a small bag with water, cash and a power bank makes the long festival day easier.

Plan your trip to the Wangala festival

The Wangala festival offers a rare look at Garo faith, farming and music. The 2026 Golden Jubilee makes this year especially important. Confirm the dates, book Tura early and give yourself a spare day for Nokrek or Siju. To place Meghalaya in context, read about the Seven Sisters of India.

Explore more celebrations in Festivals & Culture or return to the Frontier News homepage.