Meghalaya

Where Clouds Embrace Nature and Traditions

Festival Indigenous Sports Destination Textile And Crafts
Embracing Heritage through Festivals
Wangala Festival

Also known as the "100 Drums Festival," the Wangala Festival is a harvest festival celebrated by the Garo tribe in November. It marks the end of the agricultural year and is dedicated to the Sun God, Misi Saljong, for a bountiful harvest. The festival is characterized by traditional music, dance, and the rhythmic beat of 100 drums (Nagra), accompanied by the blowing of buffalo horns. Men and women dressed in traditional attire perform the Wangala dance, a form of thanksgiving.

Cherry Blossom Festival

The Cherry Blossom Festival in Shillong, held in November, celebrates the blooming of cherry blossoms in the region. The festival features cultural events, live music performances, beauty pageants, and local cuisine. The streets of Shillong are adorned with pink cherry blossoms, creating a picturesque setting that attracts tourists from around the world and promotes eco-tourism.

Indigenous Sports of Meghalaya
Archery (Teer)

Archery is a traditional sport in Meghalaya, particularly among the Khasi and Jaintia tribes. Teer, or archery betting, has even developed into a formalized activity where participants bet on the outcome of archery competitions. It remains an iconic sport, with archery ranges visible in many parts of the state. The winners are often chosen based on how close their arrow strikes a particular target.

Wangala Drumming Contests

Though primarily a cultural ritual, the Wangala Festival of the Garo tribe includes drumming competitions that test the stamina and coordination of the participants. Drumming and accompanying dance contests are integral parts of the celebrations.

Famous Destinations & Craft of Meghalaya
Krem Puri Cave

Establishing a world record at 24,583 metres (24.5 kilometres) and covering an area of 13 square kilometres – two times Gibraltar – in Mawsynramwhich, Krem Puri is almost six kilometres longer than Imawari Yeuta in Venezuela (18.7 kilometres), previous record-setting long quartzite sandstone cave.

Ryndia/Eri Silk

Meghalaya is famous for Ryndia, a fabric made from Eri Silk, known as the world's only vegan silk. Unlike other silks, the moth inside the cocoon is not killed, making it an eco-friendly and ethical textile choice.

Living Root Bridges

Meghalaya is renowned for its unique living root bridges, particularly in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills. These bridges are crafted from the roots of the Ficus elastica tree, and some are over 500 years old. They are a stunning example of sustainable engineering.

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