Raipur, November 13, 2024: The two-day Tribal Pride Day celebrations in Raipur will showcase vibrant tribal dances from the Northeast. Artists from five northeastern states—Meghalaya, Mizoram, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim—have arrived in Raipur and were warmly welcomed at the railway station with flower garlands and traditional tilak. The event, to be held at the Science College Ground on November 14 and 15, will feature traditional dances like Wangala-Rungla, Ret-Kinong, Geh Padam Ae Na-Nyi E, and Solakia, highlighting the rich cultural diversity of the Northeast.
**Wangala-Rungla Dance of Gratitude by the Garo Tribe**
A 20-member team from Meghalaya will present the Wangala-Rungla dance, a traditional Garo dance performed post-harvest to honor the fertility god, Misi Saljong. The team, hailing from North Curve Hills, around 200 kilometers from Shillong, is led by Mr. Mansen Momin. He explained that Wangala is a harvest festival where the Garo tribe expresses gratitude to Misi Saljong for bountiful crops. This ritual involves praying and dancing, followed by offering a portion of the new harvest to the deity before using it for consumption.
In this dance, both men and women participate, with male dancers beating their traditional drum, the Dama, and women gracefully swaying their hands to the music. The lead dancer, known as Grikgipa or Toregipa, guides the performance, with the drumbeats setting the rhythm for this harmonious display of gratitude.
**Solakia Dance: Celebrating Victory Over Enemies**
A 20-member troupe from Mizoram, comprising 11 men and 9 women, will present the Solakia dance, originally performed by the Mara tribe. “Solakia” means “enemy’s severed head” and historically celebrated victory in battle, symbolized by bringing home the enemy’s head as a trophy. Today, the dance is performed on significant occasions by both men and women of the Mizo community.
Led by Mr. Jotham Jama, the group explains that Solakia was first performed by the Pawi and Lakher communities. Accompanied by rhythmic chanting and drumming on paired drums called Darkhuang, the dance is further enhanced by the sounds of cymbals. Mr. Jama also shared insights about the Mara tribe, a Kuki tribe residing in the Lushai Hills of Mizoram and the Chin Hills of Myanmar, also known by various names like Lakher, Shendu, Maring, and Tlosai.
The event promises a mesmerizing display of tribal culture and a deep cultural exchange, bringing the essence of Northeast India to the heart of Raipur.
Author: This news is edited by: Abhishek Verma, (Editor, CANON TIMES)
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