Meghalaya: 100 Drums Wangala Festival cancelled due to COVID-19 crisis

Guwahati: Amid the soaring number of COVID-19 cases, the 100 Drums Wangala Festival slated for November 12, 13 and 14 next has been cancelled by the organizers.

The decision to this effect was taken by the 100 Drums Wangala Organizing Committee following an emergent meeting held at its Headquarters in Asanang near Tura, Meghalaya.

"In view of the Coronavirus pandemic, (Covid19), the members of the 100 Drums Wangala Organising Committee in an emergent meeting held today at its Headquarter Asanang, resolved not to organize the 100 Drums Wangala Festival 2020 on Nov 12, 13, 14, 2020," the 100 Drums Wangala Organising Committee said in a statement issued on Wednesday.

Wangala (which is also known as The Hundred Drums Festival, Wanma, Wanma Rongchua) is a harvest festival celebrated by the Garo tribe, predominantly found in Meghalaya.

In this post-harvest festival, the Garos give thanks to Misi Saljong (also known as Pattigipa Ra'rongipa), the sun god, for blessing the people with a rich harvest.

The 100 Drums Wangala Festival is a state-sponsored event, attracting many local, national and international tourists every year.

The decision to cancel the yearly festival has been taken amid a sharp spike in the COVID-19 numbers in the Northeast Indian state of Meghalaya.

Meghalaya on Wednesday registered 121 new COVID 19 cases, taking the total number of active cases to 1,355. 107 COVID 19 patients recovered from the virus on the same day, bringing the total number of recoveries to 1,823.

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