Cherry blossoms will stay even after fest, claims IBSD director

SHILLONG: The director of the Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), Dinabandhu Sahoo, who is the brain behind the India International Cherry Blossom Festival, is confident that the flowers will stay even after the festival.
Speaking to The Shillong Times over phone on Friday, Sahoo said preparations are in full swing for the annual festival though this year the cherry blossoms bloomed untimely.
“The cherry blossoms bloomed much earlier in Upper Shillong as the area is slightly colder than the city,” he added and assured that the festival will be better this year.
Sahoo informed that the Japanese Ambassador will visit Shillong with his team to witness the festival.
Stating that cherry blossom flowers usually last for 15 days to three weeks, many are sceptical if it would continue to bloom till the festival, which is from November 14-17. Sahoo said the idea is to develop Shillong as a pink city by 2022 when the state will celebrate its 50th anniversary.