SHILLONG: Starting on Wednesday, the India International Cherry Blossom Festival 2018 will celebrate the unique autumn flowering of Himalayan Cherry Blossoms with several cultural events at Shillong.
Visitors can enjoy fashion shows, rock concerts, a beauty pageant and even compete in an amateur Golf Tournament and alongside, there will be stalls showcasing the region’s food, wine and crafts and there are several Japanese cultural events, a Japanese Food Pavilion and a Higher Education Stall in partnership with the Embassy of Japan in India.
The festival will be inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Conrad K Sangma at Polo 5th Ground (Dalang Open Stage) which will be the main venue of the festival.
This year, the Opening Ceremony will also be graced by the Japanese Ambassador to India, Kenji Hiramatsu. The Ambassador will be leading a Japanese delegation that will engage in a dialogue, on the same day at State Convention Centre, that is entitled Celebrating the Shillong-Sakura Connect- Idea Exchange on Socio Economic Partnerships. This is being organised by the Govt of Meghalaya, FICCI Forum of Parliamentarians and the Embassy of Japan in India.
This is a signature event of the India International Cherry Blossom Festival 2018, which is being organised by the Forest and Environment Department, Govt of Meghalaya, Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD) in collaboration with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).
Other signature events of the 4 days festival are the bioresources fashion show, the cherry blossom run, the Japanese cosplay competition, a Japanese Judokan display, screening of Japanese films and a cultural mosaic featuring the fusion of Indian and Japanese drummers.
Further, during the festival dates (14-17 November 2018) , visitors can also enjoy illuminated cherry blossoms and fine dining at Ward’s Lake, which will have extended opening hours and close only at 8:00 PM.
Right now, visitors can also visit Forest Colony, Lawsohtun, Upper Shillong in the areas around Elephant Falls to watch the Cherry Blossoms that are in full bloom.