Sur Sangam great platform for musical talent hunt
The 11th edition of Sur Sangam organized by Menora Sports and Cultural Club was held at the Soso Tham auditorium. It was a delight to listen to young people (both male and female) sing lovely Bollywood songs in Reality Show ‘Sa Re Ga Ma’ style. A young lady from far away Mairang demonstrated that there is plenty of talent in the outback of this State. But what warmed the cockles was the dance performed by the children of Dwar Jingkyrmen. They gyrated to their heart’s content quite oblivious of who was watching. The kids just enjoyed their moments on the stage. It’s a gentle reminder to the audience that happiness is not just about things and tall aspirations but the joy of seeing those who are ‘challenged’ overcoming their disabilities and making others happy just by being themselves. Kudos to their teachers for the patience and kindness with which they deal with these special kids!
It’s wine, wine and more wine
The music, greenery, chill in the air, all formed the perfect setting for the 12th Shillong Wine Festival which saw city residents enjoy a cozy evening at the State Central Library premises recently.
Nothing gets better than sipping that patiently made glass of fermented fruit juice in the chill of a November evening with a live band playing love tracks in the background and it was exactly this which was in store for those who ventured into the wine fest.
Everybody irrespective of their varied backgrounds and professions seemed to be, or at least pretended to look and behave like wine connoisseurs out hunting for nothing but the best of the home brewed liquid. While there were avid wine lovers, checking out the stalls meticulously, plenty of free wine on offer added to the delight of the not so potential buyers.
Not surprisingly there were some (insignificantly few) who seemed to be high on wine while the assured majority enjoyed an evening of pleasant conversations, music and merriment.
Interestingly at another venue of the city a beer festival was also held. Wonder why the organizers of both could not sit across the table and agree on a separate date so that both have a record crowd. A beer drinker can also be a wine aficionado and vice versa. Many who went to the Wine Fest could not make to the beer extravaganza and that was true of the beer tasters too. Now that Shillong is likely to have an annual beer fest a la the Oktoberfest of Germany, the organizers of the beer show could take a cue and have it in October too when it is still a wee bit warmer.
Beggars in the centre of Khyndailad walk
Is begging illegal or isn’t it? No one knows but beggars set up shop regularly in the newly tiled walk along Khyndailad. If begging is legal then beggars should be given a separate place and not be allowed to park themselves in the middle of the road. It’s an eyesore.