The Garo Cultural Forum, Assam, has sought Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s intervention for the preservation and promotion of Garo cultural heritage, urging the state government to extend financial and administrative support for safeguarding the community’s traditional identity and indigenous practices.
A memorandum was submitted by the forum this afternoon at the ongoing Wangala festival taking place in Chibragre where the CM was the chief guest on the second day of the festival.
In a memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister on November 12, the Forum placed a series of demands, including an annual grant-in-aid for organising the Wangala Festival, construction of a permanent festival stage, traditional Garo model houses and establishment of a cultural museum and research centre at Chotipara in Goalpara district.
The memorandum, signed by Forum president Desal Bimik Marak and secretary Raksil Marak, stated that the organisation has been celebrating the traditional Wangala Festival since its establishment on October 18, 2022, in collaboration with the Garo Students’ Union (Assam State Zone) and the Garo Sahitya Sabha.
Describing Wangala as the most significant post-harvest thanksgiving festival of the Garo community, the Forum said the celebration showcases its rich cultural traditions through indigenous music, folk dances and traditional rituals while strengthening unity and social harmony.
The organization said an annual government grant would help ensure the smooth and sustainable organization of the festival at Chotipara, under the 13 No. Goalpara West (ST) Assembly constituency.
It has also demanded a permanent multi-purpose open stage at the Chotipara cultural complex, pointing out that organizers face recurring financial constraints in constructing temporary bamboo stages every year.
Seeking to preserve traditional architecture, the Forum has proposed the construction of Garo model houses, including the Nokmong and Nokpante, showcasing indigenous building techniques using bamboo, timber, cane and thatch.
Another key demand is the establishment of a Garo Cultural Museum and Research Centre to document and preserve the community’s oral history, folk literature, traditional agricultural implements, musical instruments such as Dama, Kram and Adil, and indigenous handloom products, including Dakmanda.