Wangala
Meghalaya's Hundred Drums Festival
Significance
Honours Misi Saljong, the Garo sun deity and giver of harvests. One of the most visually striking tribal festivals in the Northeast.
The Garo tribe's post-harvest thanksgiving. 100+ traditional long drums (dama) are beaten in synchronised rhythms by bare-chested warriors in feather headdresses; dancers perform the Ajema and Grika in concentric rings at Asanang.
First-time visitor
Spend Day 1 walking Asanang village, Day 2 for the Hundred Drums opening, Day 3 learning the Ajema.
What to see
- Rugala — ceremonial offering of rice beer
- 100-drum synchronised opening performance
- Ajema dance in circles
- Sasat Sowa — 'burning of incense'
Festival foods
Best for
Travel tips
- 1Fly into Guwahati, then 320 km by road to Tura
- 2Carry cash — ATMs are sparse in West Garo Hills
- 3Combine with Cherrapunji root bridges and Dawki river
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Cherrapunji Living Root Bridges
Meghalaya
500-year-old footbridges grown from the aerial roots of ficus trees, handwoven across ravines by the Khasi tribe — the most famous is the double-decker bridge in Nongriat, Asia's only self-healing architecture.
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Questions & Answers
About Wangala
Wangala 2026 is scheduled for 12–14 Nov 2026. That's 202 days from today.
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