Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma visited the festival grounds at Wangala A'dam in Chibragre, near Tura, West Garo Hills, on October 21, 2026, to personally oversee site preparations and civil works for the upcoming 1000 Drums Wangala Festival. This year marks the 50th Golden Jubilee celebration of the harvest festival, which is scheduled to take place from November 11 to 14, 2026. Dedicated to the Garo Sun God of fertility, Misi Saljong, the event will feature traditional rituals including Rugala and Sasat Sowa, performed under the guidance of the Nokma, alongside a landmark 1000-drum performance as detailed by News On Air.
To support the event, the state government has sanctioned a total of ₹25.50 crore. This includes a ₹5.50 crore budget for the 100 Drums Wangala Festival Committee and an additional ₹20 crore allocated through the Public Works Department for critical infrastructure, temporary installations, and essential arrangements as outlined on the
Meghalaya Government Portal. Chief Minister Sangma emphasized that the administration is collaborating closely with the organizing committee to ensure the festival serves as a milestone for cultural preservation and tourism.
Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Speaker and North Tura MLA, Thomas A. Sangma, also inspected the Garo Heritage Village at Chibragre in October 2026, expressing satisfaction with the ongoing departmental coordination.
Ronald Rikman Sangma, Chairman of the 100 Drums Wangala Festival Committee, noted that while the committee is working under tight time constraints, preparations remain on track. Organizers confirmed that while four Chief Ministers from the Northeast are expected to attend, a scheduled contingent from Bangladesh will be unable to participate in this year's festivities according to the
Meghalaya Government Press Release.
