The Garo community celebrated the Wangala Festival – their biggest religious event – in Tangail.
The celebration was held at Saint Paul’s School in the village of Pirgachha in Tangail’s Madhupur upazila on Saturday.
Being part of an ancient ritual meant to bring home the new harvest, the event involves cultural dance, music, special prayers, and discussion meetings.
The indigenous community in Madhupur has been celebrating the Wangala Festival annually since 1992, and they believe it renews the spirit of their culture to the newer generations.
Program attendees told the Dhaka Tribune that they enjoy the annual event. Primarily Christian, they celebrate their ancient ritual while keeping to their religious tenets.
Pirgachha Saint Paul’s Church priest Father Lawrence Riberu said: “Wangala is part of the Christian faith. They believe in dedicating the first harvest of the year to Jesus Christ in order to thank him for the blessings and answered prayers they enjoyed throughout the year.”
