Day one draws massive turnout; Richard Marx among other stars enthral crowd
From Our Correspondent
TURA, Dec 6: The much-awaited Me’gong Festival 2025 opened to a spectacular first day in the presence of Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, with the state’s flagship cultural celebration in the Garo Hills drawing thousands of visitors from across the region and beyond.
The scale, diversity and global reach of the festival reaffirmed Meghalaya’s emergence as a leading force in India’s concert economy, with the state increasingly recognised for hosting world-class artists, nurturing local talent and building a thriving cultural ecosystem that fuels both tourism and livelihoods.
The opening evening delivered a star-studded musical showcase on the Aski Stage, where pop-rock legend Richard Marx set the tone with Wherever You Go, I’ll Be Your Man, Don’t You Know, End of Summer and Magic Hour from his upcoming album Afterhours, alongside many timeless classics.
Expressing his delight at the Me’gong Festival, Marx stated, “I am so happy to be here with you tonight. It’s been a while since I have been to India. And, the first time here at the Me’gong festival. Very happy to see you guys.”
This was followed by a powerful performance from Neeti Mohan, with the audience vibing to Bollywood chartbusters like Ishq Wala Love, Jiya Re, Tu Hain Toh, London Thumakda and several others that kept the crowd captivated. She ended her set with Bollywood retro hits such as Lag Ja Gale, Naina Tose Lage, Suno Gaur Se Duniya Walon and more, drawing festival-goers even deeper into the performance.
“I kept thinking as to why did I not come here before? It’s beautiful. You all are so lucky that you get to live in heaven on earth,” she said to a crowd hanging on to every word.
In her tribute to legendary artist Zubeen Garg, Neeti Mohan performed Mayabini, a song that resonates deeply with fans of Garg, who was born in Tura, West Garo Hills.
The evening maintained a powerful momentum, defined by remarkable audience engagement as thousands of festival-goers sang in unison throughout the night. From Richard Marx’s timeless vocals to Neeti Mohan’s magnetic stage presence, the performers commanded the energy of the grounds with ease.
By the time Nucleya’s explosive set took over, Me’gong Festival had transformed into an unmissable experience. The electric atmosphere of Day 1 has set the stage for an even bigger finale, making the festival a must-visit for anyone seeking its peak cultural vibrancy.
The tempo shifted into soulful reggae as Julian Marley, son of the legendary Bob Marley, brought global rhythms to the Garo Hills before India’s electronic sensation Nucleya closed the night with a high-energy set that turned the festival grounds into a pulsating dance arena. The strong turnout and electric atmosphere underscored Me’gong’s rising stature as one of India’s most dynamic cultural festivals.
Meghalaya’s home-grown artists shone brilliantly alongside global icons, with standout performances by Haystack Ladies, Strum Stories and Ahaia, each bringing distinct sounds rooted in local identity. Their performances highlighted the depth of Meghalaya’s evolving music landscape.
A major highlight of the day was the powerful showcase by the top-seven finalists of the Chief Minister’s Meghalaya Grassroots Music Project (CM-MGMP). Conceived under the Chief Minister’s leadership, the CM-MGMP has become one of the state’s most transformative programmes for emerging artists, offering them exposure and opportunities to perform alongside internationally acclaimed musicians.
For many performers, sharing the festival line-up with global sensations marked a defining moment in their musical journey and reaffirmed Meghalaya’s commitment to nurturing creative talent at the grassroots.
CM-MGMP bands performing on Day 1 included Nictophilia, Magnificent Obsession, Necroscope, Emberfall, Imphaled, Misagathia and Rise & Shine. Reflecting on this, 19-year-old CM-MGMP artist from Tura, Jakrima R. Marak, stated, “MGMP is helping local musicians grow, and promoting budding artists like us, from all across the state.”
The festival grounds were also abuzz with culinary excitement as the Great Garo Hills Cook-Off returned with renewed energy. Adding national visibility and prestige to the contest was Nambie Jessica Marak, runner-up of MasterChef India Season 8, who joined as a special guest to help finalise the winners. Visitors relished an array of traditional flavours and creative interpretations of indigenous cuisine, strengthening the festival’s role in promoting local food cultures.
Jessica Nambie Marak expressed her delight, noting that participants presented not only indigenous dishes but also fusion plates combining traditional and modern elements crafted using rare ingredients sourced from Meghalaya’s soil. She shared that such dishes symbolised lost heritage that festivals like Me’gong help bring to light.
Beyond music and culinary showcases, Me’gong 2025 offered a vibrant cultural landscape celebrating both heritage and innovation. Visitors engaged in traditional sports like Anding Oka, explored the lively Brew Village, immersed themselves in digital experiences at the VR Zone, and interacted with artisans, dancers and performers across the expansive festival grounds.
Stalls offering local food, handicrafts, ice-cream, beverages and more were displayed by entrepreneurs under the state’s flagship PRIME Meghalaya initiative.
The integration of traditional crafts, indigenous cuisine, contemporary staging and modern recreation reaffirmed Me’gong’s identity as a multi-dimensional cultural experience.
In recent years, Meghalaya has consistently drawn international artists, expanded large-format festivals and invested in creative infrastructure, emerging as a regional role model for cultural economy development. Through events like Me’gong Festival, Meghalaya continues to build an ecosystem where tourism, music, cultural enterprise and youth aspiration intersect to form a sustainable economic pathway for the future.
With a spectacular first day behind it, the festival now builds towards an equally exciting Day 2. The Aski Stage will host performances by Blue and global electronic duo Yellow Claw, along with Kanika Kapoor and Prateek Kuhad, while the Kingfisher Stage will feature vibrant showcases by Hoi Hoi Makbil, G-Hills Finest, Crack Gang, Rough Road and Nokpante, alongside the Cosplay Contest and ongoing cultural activities. As anticipation rises, visitors can look forward to another unforgettable day of music, culture and celebration at Me’gong Festival 2025.
