Day 2 of Shillong Autumn Festival
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Despite inclement weather, hundreds of people thronged the Orchid Lake Resort at Umiam to witness the exhilarating performances of cultural troupes from different parts of the country and the region on the second day of the three-day Shillong Autumn Festival on Saturday.
Among the outstanding performances included Thangta, a traditional martial arts dance of Manipur, the Pongshala of Manipur, the Kokborok dance of Tripura, the Rajasthani snake dance, the Khasi Garo drum ensemble, the Snappaka Drum group, the street dance troupe, the Boat Symphony with torch flame formation at the lake, the Stories Doffers Urge and Afflatus.
The festival was enthusiastically experienced by tourists and local people alike. Earlier in the morning, a workshop on the topic ‘Emerging tourism circuit’ was held which was attended by potential stakeholders of the State tourism industry.
Gracing the occasion, Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma emphasized on the enormous potential that nature has bestowed upon the State to attract visitors from all walks of life and all spheres of interest. He called upon investors to identify the potentials and endeavour to enable an atmosphere of peace and harmony for the State and the region at large.
The final day of the festival on Sunday will be exclusively for family entertainment and a taste of unusual treat of performances never experience before in the region. The Para gliding to be performed by professional aviators from France shall overwhelm the skies and give a different experience altogether, organizers said.
Meanwhile, the Meghalaya Tourism Development Forum (MTDF) and the Dorbar Shnong Umiam have requested all the visitors to the Festival on Sunday to refrain from causing any trouble or consuming alcohol, abstain from using foul languages or committing any nuisance within the area of jurisdiction of the Umiam Dorbar Shnong.