Assams Garo Community Seeks Support for Cultural Preservation

Guwahati, November 12 (Daily Kiran) : The Garo community in Assam is appealing to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for assistance in preserving and promoting its rich cultural heritage. The Garo Cultural Forum has requested financial and administrative support for several initiatives in the Goalpara district.

During the ongoing Wangala Festival in Chibragre, the forum presented a memorandum to the Chief Minister, who attended the event as the chief guest on its second day.

Key demands from the forum include annual government grants for the Wangala Festival, the construction of a permanent platform, the creation of models of traditional Garo houses, and the establishment of a cultural museum and research center in Chotipara.

The memorandum was signed by the forum’s president, Desal Bimick Mark, and secretary, Raksil Mark. Since its formation on October 18, 2022, the forum has collaborated with the Garo Students Union (Assam State Zone) and the Garo Literary Society to organize the traditional Wangala Festival.

The forum emphasizes that Wangala is the most significant post-harvest celebration for the Garo community. This annual event not only showcases traditional music, folk dance, and customs but also fosters unity and social harmony within the community.

They argue that securing regular government grants will ensure the festival can be held consistently and smoothly in Chotipara, located in the Goalpara West (ST) Assembly constituency. The forum has also requested the government to create a permanent multipurpose open stage at the Chotipara cultural complex, noting that considerable resources are currently spent on constructing temporary bamboo structures each year.

To preserve traditional architecture, the forum proposed creating models of Garo houses, such as Nokmong and Nokpante, using local materials like bamboo, wood, cane, and thatch, along with traditional techniques.

The proposed Garo Cultural Museum and Research Center would document the community’s oral traditions, folk literature, farming tools, and traditional musical instruments like Dama, Kram, and Adil. This initiative aims to safeguard traditional handloom products, such as Dakmanda.

The forum believes the proposed institution could emerge as a hub for cultural documentation, academic research, and educational activities, attracting scholars, students, and tourists alike.

The organization expressed hope for a positive response from the state government, urging it to take concrete steps to protect and promote the unique cultural identity and traditional heritage of the Garo community in Assam.