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Ambassador (Retd.) Mr. Supradip Chakma, Adviser to the Chittagong Hill Tracts, emphasized the importance of fostering harmonious connections among all communities in Bangladesh. He expressed a commitment to collaborating with every community throughout the country.

Mr. Supradip Chakma expressed these thoughts during his speech as the chief guest at the Garo traditional Wangala celebration 2024, which took place yesterday at Banani Model School and College in Dhaka.

Mr. Supradip Chakma also stated that it is essential to preserve and cherish our manners, clothing, culture, and traditions. He highlighted the significance of expressing gratitude for the good deeds of others. Recognizing and showing thankfulness are important aspects of various religious traditions. The Wangala, or Navanna festival celebrated by the Garos, incorporates appreciation for good deeds, acknowledgment of sacrifices, and the performance of puja to honor deities.

The Wangala festival begins in the morning with the offering of crops to the deity. During this time, Priest Johnson Mring worships the grain god, Mishi Saljong. The Garo community celebrates the Nabanna festival of Wangala during the harvest season in November and December, marking the end of autumn. This year’s festival aims to address challenges related to increased crop production and to promote peace and prosperity for all.

Garo artists, dressed in traditional costumes, perform the ‘Jum Nritya,’ a dance that symbolizes the slash-and-burn agricultural practice. During the Wangala festival, the Wangala Celebration Committee has set up various stalls at the Banani College grounds, offering traditional food, handicrafts, clothing from the Garo community, and a variety of trinkets for visitors to enjoy.

The Traditional Garo Wangala Celebration Parishad, chaired by, Sagar Richil, welcomed several distinguished guests: Miz Nandita Chakma, spouse of Adviser Supradip Chakma; Kangkan Chakma, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs; Jananto Chisim, Nakma (Headman); Augustine Purification, Chairman of the Dhaka Metropolitan Christian Cooperative Housing Society; Nakma Ant Ghagra, Managing Director of Tetra Engineering Ltd.; Jamil Rahman, an Adivasi representative from New York, USA; along with Ignatius Hemant Quraiya and Immanuel Bappi.