Season of Cherry Blossom
Cherry blossoms are in full bloom in the city. But for revellers, excitement is erupting over the much-awaited Cherry Blossom Festival, which is set to be an in-person affair this year.
Several parts of the city are strewn in shades of pink, and many citizens, with the beautiful trees in their vicinity, have even taken to social media to share pictures.
Some of the places where one can see the pink flowers on the tall trees are: a stretch of road near MES, Wards’ Lake, etc.
Also known as Prunus Cerasoides, the cherry blossom in Shillong is exquisite for locals and tourists alike as hundreds flock to the hill city to experience the ambience of the season of cherry blossoms and the festival itself.
Word is out that the Cherry Blossom Festival is slated for November 25-27 and Shillongites are upbeat about what’s in store this year as last year was unprecedented and the festival had to be cancelled due to the pandemic.
To open or not to open?
Does COVID-19 turn more dangerous on Sundays? Does the virus lie low on weekdays and unleash its fury on Sundays? The SJ team has no clue about it but a very rough estimate makes us feel it actually does, or at least the district administration and experts here think so.
Shops and business establishments remain closed on Sundays in parts of the city. In other parts of the town, everything is open and life goes on as usual. We think this is biased unless our experts know better.
The administration permitted shops and commercial establishments to open on Sundays from October 31. However, in some localities, the weekend lockdown continues. Movement of people and vehicles are normal on Sundays. Tourist spots are filled to the brim and small traffic jams are witnessed in parts of the capital.
Residents moving from one locality to another on Sundays are left bemused when they see shops open and life moving at normal pace in other parts of the town.
A few of them asked the SJ team why it was so? We smiled at them, unable to answer their questions. Perhaps the experts can help?
Wintry fervour
It is that time of the year when commercial hubs in Shillong are on the trot with buying and selling of second-hand winter merchandise. The SJ team visited Police Bazar on Friday only to find people thronging such shops. From trench coats to leather jackets to puffer jackets to hoodies…you name it! Plus, you get it all for jaw-dropping deals. Hence, the footfall.
One of the shopkeepers, during a momentary breather from attending customers, informed the SJ team that people from all walks of life come to his shop in search of winter wear.
“There has been an increase in the footfall since the past two weeks. I expect it to continue at least till Christmas,” he said.
Another seller, who was braving the evening chills to attend to his customer, said that even tourists, particularly from Assam, visit his shop in search of winter apparel.
“This is the only time of the year when our businesses boom. I just want to make the most out of it,” he said, when asked how does he cope with the winter chills while attending to his customers in open.
Towards the other end of the town, in Happy Valley, an array of apparels was on sale, and of course they were bustling with customers, too!
Almost all the shops had restocked winter wears, and the public of Shillong, being avid shoppers, were on the hunt for the best. You would get the impression that most of the best picks would be sold out, if one were to visit the area. Regardless, you won’t know unless you pay a visit.
With every passing day, the temperature in Shillong feels slightly chillier and considering we’re yet to experience the mercury of the year-end, one can’t agree more that winter wear is a must.