Raipur. 13 November 2024. In the grand event of two-day Tribal Pride Day at the Science College grounds in the capital Raipur, artists from different states of the country along with the North-Eastern states will also showcase their culture. Artists from five states of North-East India, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, have reached Raipur to perform in the program organized on 14-15 November. The artists were welcomed with flowers and tilak at Raipur railway station. These artists from the North-Eastern states will showcase the diverse colors of their culture by performing folk dances like Wangala-Rungala, Ret-Kinong, Geh Padam A Na-Nyi E, Solakiya.
After the harvest, Garo tribals perform Wangala-Rungala dance, thanking the gods Missi Saljong.
A team of 20 members from Meghalaya has come to Raipur to perform on Tribal Pride Day. The troupe will present the Wangala-Rungala folk dance performed by the Garo tribe after the harvest. Its artists have come from North Curve Hills, about 200 kilometers away from Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya. Mr. Mansen Momin, who was leading the team, said that Wangala is a popular festival of the Garo tribe. This tribe is dependent on agricultural economy. They perform this dance after the harvest to thank Misi Saljong, the god of fertility. They thank God for providing the crop, worship him, dance, sing and pray and offer the new crop. No agricultural produce is used before giving thanks to the deity Misi Saljong.
Both men and women participate in the Wangala-Rungala tribal folk dance. The male dancers dance with their traditional drum called Dama. The one who leads the dancers in Wangala-Rungala folk dance is called Grikgippa or Toregipa. In this, women move their hands to the tune of music, while men dance by playing their traditional drums.
Solakiya is a dance to celebrate the victory over the enemies, the dance is accompanied by vocal music like chanting of mantras.
The folk dance troupe that reached Raipur from Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram, will perform Solakiya dance here. Its team of 20 members includes 11 men and nine women. This dance is mainly performed by the Mara tribe of Mizoram. 'Solakiya' means the severed head of the enemy. The Solakiya dance was originally performed to celebrate victory over enemies. Especially on those occasions when the enemy's head was brought home as a trophy by the winner. But now it is performed by men and women of Mizo communities on all important occasions.
Mr. Jothamzama, who is leading the troupe of artists from Mizoram, said that the Solakiya dance was started by the Pivi and Lakher communities. The vocal music that accompanies this folk dance is closer to chanting than to singing. The rhythmic music is provided by a pair of gongs, one larger than the other, called darkhuang. To enhance the music, several pairs of cymbals are also played.
Mr. Jothamzama told about the Mara tribe that performs this dance, that it is a Kuki tribe that lives in the Lushai Hills of Mizoram and the Chin Hills of Myanmar. They are also known by the names Lakher, Shendu, Maring, Zu, Tlosai and Khongzai.