Nothing much to cheer about Cherry Blossom Fest

SHILLONG: If the greatness of a culture can be found in its festivals then the Cherry Blossom Festival is an antithesis of everything that is part of the local culture.
The festival, which has multiple venues with no proper schedule or guide, is a flop. The Ward’s Lake venue was filled with selfie-obsessed youths and tourists. There were no volunteers to guide a newcomer on the place or the programmes.
There were events at Ward’s Lake and Polo Ground and on State Central Library premises. But many visitors at Ward’s Lake were unaware of the events in different venues.
“My daughter and nieces wanted to come to the festival and I knew about Ward’s Lake. But I heard from others that there are events at Polo. But I do not think we will go there as it is too late,” said a woman in her mid-thirties, who is a resident of Upper Shillong.
A handful of volunteers flaunting the ID card of the festival were seen clicking photographs but none was available when one had to ask for guidance.
The third day also saw screening of a Korean film, Confidential Assignment, at the Convention Centre, Pinewood.
The movie started more than an hour after the scheduled time.
Due to technical glitch, there was no subtitle and the organisers apologised for the “inconvenience”. The screen was not of good quality and viewers were a few.
A visit to the food court opposite Ward’s Lake was a disappointment too as only three stalls were there for the visitors to choose from. There was also a stall selling rice beer from Byrnihat.
The shoddy arrangement is a disappointment for a hyped calendar event like Cherry Blossom.
The only consolation this year was that the trees were still in bloom unlike last year.
When The Shillong Times contacted the forest department minister Lahkmen Rymbui, he said the government should not be at the forefront in sponsoring an event like Cherry Blossom.
“Instead, it should support it and let private parties take care of it. Having said that, it is also the fact that festivals like this encourage tourist footfall,” he added.