SHILLONG: Shillong is all decked in wispy pink and white blooms as the city gears itself to host the 4th edition of the annual cherry blossom festival in few days time from now.
The 4th edition of annual festival will kick-start in the pine city from November 13 to 16 in Wards Lake and Polo 5th ground, and during the event a host of activities including fashion shows, rock concerts, beauty pageant among others will be organised.
Visitors will be able to enjoy fashion shows, rock concerts, a beauty pageant and even compete in an amateur Golf Tournament. Alongside, there will be stalls showcasing the region’s food, wine and crafts.
This International Year of Indigenous Languages brings in the Republic of Korea as a partner country.
There will be several K-events including a K-Pop concert and also a K-cuisine stall and exhibits on opportunities on education in South Korea, in collaboration with the Korean Cultural Centre India.
Director of the Institute of Bioresources & Sustainable development Dinabandhu Saho, who is the brainchild behind the event, said that preparations for the event are going on “very nicely and flowering of the cherry blossom tress have taken place.”
“The flowering of the trees will continue till November 17-18,” he said.
He also said that this time South Korea is the partner country of the festival whereas last year, it was Japan.
Meanwhile, an official from the Forest department said the department is focusing in planting and nurturing more trees to give the city a total new approach.
The festival will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and the Republic of Korea delegation will be led by Shin Bong-Kil, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea.
A key event of the festival will be a summit between the Republic of Korea and the Government of Meghalaya on issues of environmental reclamation and waste to wealth, and several MoUs are expected to be inked during the summit.
In this 4th edition of the festival, LG Electronics Inc — a South Korean-headquartered multinational electronics company — has also stepped in as a major sponsor.
