By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Nov 16: As select parts of Shillong are draped in a hue of pink, visitors and locals alike are left questioning: “Where are the cherry blossom trees?”
Despite government claims of an increasing number of trees, the ground reality tells a different story, marked by neglect and scattered, haphazard growth of the iconic blossoms.
Unlike the picturesque Cherry Blossom Festival in Japan, celebrated amidst vibrant, full-bloom trees, Shillong’s festival struggles to provide a cohesive aesthetic backdrop.
Tourists must scour the city for isolated spots where cherry blossom trees offer a decent photograph, with promotional images heavily edited to compensate for the visual disparity.
The first Cherry Blossom Festival in Meghalaya was launched in 2016 by the State Government with support from the Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), led by Prof. Dinabandhu Sahoo.
Although 3,000 saplings were reportedly planted in 2015, with plans to line the route from Umiam to Shillong, the results have been underwhelming.
When asked about the government’s efforts to ensure the healthy growth of cherry blossom trees, Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh remarked, “Trees, animals, plants all have lives because of our continued enhancement of programmes under Cherry Blossom. This year you will notice the number of trees has gone up. Trees, being living beings, respond to care and bloom accordingly.”
The festival, which aims to boost tourism, has increasingly shifted its focus to recreational activities like concerts, food stalls and merchandise.
Social activist Toki Blah noted, “The focus of the festival is mainly to boost tourism and now it has changed from aesthetic to more appealing mundane activity like having fun, concerts, and it is fine if the objective is to boost tourism.”
“Bringing in Bonny M, Bryan Adams this and that attracts tourism and younger lot in the country, which is fine. I see it as a very selective sort of tourism appeal and not to all very elitist, who find enjoyment in such theatrical performances and I think it is okay,” Blah added.
Meanwhile, writer Bijoya Sawain suggested the plantation of Cherry Blossom trees from Umiam to Shillong.
“I think music and literary festivals are important but many people travel hundreds of miles, especially for the visual splendor of the cherry blossoms. More trees should be planted all the way up from Umiam to Shillong and all over the city,” she said.
Visitors, however, expressed mixed opinions.
A tourist from Assam, Rahul Basumatary said, “I am attending the festival to see the cherry blossom in bloom and would like to visit the Wards Lake for it. And, of course, for the live concert as well as food, merchandise and gaming sections.”
Another tourist, Rohit Gogoi said, “It is a wonderful feeling to see the cherry blossom trees blooming. I am here for the cherry blossom trees, music, fun and quality time. Of course, the more, the merrier. If there could be more trees, it will only be an added attraction and I would love it,” he added.