A Spider named after Wangala festival of Meghalaya

A new spider species named Steriphopus wangala has been discovered in the West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya, India.

About Steriphopus Wangala:

1. Steriphopus wangala is a newly discovered species of spider from the West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya, India.
2. It has been named after the Wangala festival, a harvest festival celebrated by the Garo community of Meghalaya, also known as the "100 Drums Festival."
3. This spider belongs to the Palp-Footed Spider family and is characterized by its disproportionately powerful and heavily sclerotized first pair of legs.
4. It has a characteristic reddish-brown color.

Wangala Festival:

1. The Wangala festival is a popular festival among the Garos of Meghalaya, also known as the "100 Drums Festival."
2. It marks the end of the agricultural season and is a time for the Garos to thank the spirits and deities for a bountiful harvest and seek their blessings for the upcoming year.
3. During the festival, the Garos offer sacrifices to please their main deity, Saljong, the Sun God, to ensure their continued favor.
4. The Wangala festival also signifies the onset of winter in Meghalaya.
5. The highlight of the Wangala festival is the rhythmic beat of a hundred drums. These drums are traditionally made out of tree trunks and are an integral part of Garo culture.
6. Towards the end of the festival, which lasts for several days, the largest batch of dancers converges on the main celebration area with multiple drums and performs the ceremonial and traditional dances.
7. The dance is characterized by dancers moving to the rhythmic drumming.

The Garos:

1. The Garos, who call themselves Achik-mande, form the second largest tribe in the state of Meghalaya.
2. They are one of the last remaining matrilineal tribes in the world, with the line of succession passing down through the female line.
3. Two mountain ranges, the Arabella range and the Tura range, pass through the Garo Hills, forming the great Balpakram valley in between.
4. The Balpakram area is considered sacred for the Garo community due to their belief that the spirits of the dead sojourn there.
5. The highest point in the Garo Hills is Nokrek Peak, with an elevation of 1412 meters, covered by a thick film of lush forest.
6. The region is home to the esteemed Nokrek National Park, which protects a highly diverse plant and animal diversity. In 2009, the park was designated a biosphere reserve by UNESCO.

What is a Biosphere Reserve (BR)?

1. Biosphere Reserve (BR) is an international designation by UNESCO.
2. BRs are representative parts of natural and cultural landscapes.
3. BRs extend over a large area of terrestrial or coastal/marine ecosystems or a combination thereof.
4. BRs are sites for testing interdisciplinary approaches to understanding and managing changes and interactions between social and ecological systems.
5. BRs also focus on conflict prevention and management of biodiversity.
6. Biosphere reserves are nominated by national governments.
7. BRs remain under the sovereign jurisdiction of the states where they are located.

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