Cherry Blossoms bloom in Shillong as festival draws tourists

SHILLONG, Nov 8: Cherry blossoms have begun to bloom across the state capital, drawing tourists eager to experience the upcoming Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival.
The cherry blossoms typically bloom in November, inspiring the government to launch the festival, which has grown in popularity each year.
This year’s festival is set to begin on November 15, with preparations underway across the city.
Wards Lake, adorned with cherry blossoms, has seen a rise in visitors, particularly young people, eager to capture photos amid the pink blooms. Banners and hoardings are also being put up around Shillong to promote the festival.
Parambir Singh Sehdave, president of the Federation of Shillong Hotels, noted an improvement in hotel occupancy rates, which, he said, now stand at around 90 percent, following a quieter few months.
The hoteliers are also expecting that more tourists would start arriving as the festival nears.
The two-day event at the RBDSA sports complex will feature an exciting line-up, including international artists such as Akon, Clean Bandit and Jasleen Royal.
Activities and football matches at Ward’s Lake are also expected to draw even more visitors as the festival unfolds.