Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb along with State Tourism Minister Pranajit Singha Roy, Bangladesh MP Jewel Aarong and other dignitaries inaugurated the 16th State Level Wangala Festival 2021 – the Post Harvest Fest – at Natintila in Tripura on Wednesday (February 17).
Wangala is a harvest time festival of Garo community. This post harvest Fest is also called the Festival of ‘The Hundred Drums’. People of Garo community offer gratitude to Sun God for blessing with rich harvest.
The Tripura Garo Union in collaboration with State Information and Cultural Affairs Department and local administration organized the Festival.
Speaking on the occasion, Biplab Kumar Deb detailed the initiatives taken by the BJP-IPFT coalition Government of Tripura for the holistic development of all the ethnic communities of the State. He said, overall improvement of every community is the key for development of a State and a country.
“The Government is determined to bring all the Janajati children in the arena of education. State Janajati Welfare department has already started providing free coaching to students belonging to ethnic communities to enable them for competitive examinations”, Biplab Kumar Deb said and pointed out that the State Government had already launched “Lakshya’ Scheme to encourage Janajati students to appear in All India competitive exams. In addition, constriction works of eight Ekalabya Schools are going on.
He also asserted the State Government is working to preserve, enrich and respect the traditional cultural heritage of the State. In this connection, Deb mentioned that three Janajati persons belonging to traditional art and culture were conferred ‘Padma Shri’ awards. They are traditional flute player Thanga Darlong, eminent Kokbarok litterateur late Beni Chandra Jamatia and prominent trainer of Hozagiri dance Satyaram Reang.
Apart from specific efforts, the State Government has also taken multi-dimensional approach to ensure development of the State. Referring to Prime Minister’s special emphasis for the growth of ‘Asthalaxmi’ – eight Northeastern States, the Tripura Chief Minister said, commencement of SEZ would trigger thriving economic activities in the States and people of the State would be immensely benefitted.
Jewel Aarang of Bangladesh said, India stood rock behind Bangladesh since the days of Mukti Yuddha and till the Covid pandemic. He thanked the Government of India for extended help to Bangladesh.
