Keonjhar: Art connoisseurs from the district and beyond relished on the folk dances of Meghalaya, called Wangala, during the Adirang Mahotsav, a National Tribal Festival of Dance, Music, Theatre and Crafts organised by National School of Drama in this town.
On this occasion, our correspondent had a formal discussion with Mansingh, the leader of the dance troupe from Meghalaya.
While narrating the dance history, Mansingh says, “Meghalaya is basically inhabited by three tribes and Garo is one of them. Garo constitute a larger share of the State’s tribal population. Traditionally, after harvest, this tribe makes merriment celebration performing this Wangala dance.”
The Garos, who are nature lovers, chiefly live on agriculture. Even today majority are using their age old methods of cultivation. They swear by tradition and have never ever tried to live a modern life style, Mansingh narrates.
Every year they invoke the God of fertility with dance and music to get a better harvest. The female and male members of the tribe equally take part in Wangla, the males play the drums while the females accompany them at dance. One of the male dancers (called Nokma) sings and leads the dance troop.
During the dance, the performers are clad in colourful garments with feathered headgears, they hold traditional farming instruments symbolising the harvest season. While the male members play the drums, the women members clap in sync which creates a beautiful symphony. One of the striking features of this tribal dance form is the swirl performed by the male dancers with the drums.
The visiting dance troupe performed the art form depicting nature’s beauty and the Garo ancient civilization so immaculately that the audience was enthralled and captivated till the very end of the performance.
PNN
