defaced with graffiti, raising concerns over public decorum and civic sense. (ST)
A quiet clean-up in Shillong
Spent fireworks, coloured paper and bits of burnt plastic, marking the city’s festive joy, still remain strewn on Shillong’s streets, but as the celebrations fade, small groups of residents have stepped forward with brooms and trash bags, quietly reclaiming their neighbourhoods from the debris.
Across localities like Laitumkhrah, Jaiaw and Rynjah, volunteers have been sweeping pavements and clearing drains, restoring order where the revelry left its mark.
Online, residents have voiced their pride and frustration in equal measure. “Where locals live, it tends to be clean … but in mixed areas, the nalas fill with rubbish,” one Reddit user observed.
While the streets still bear the stains of crackers and confetti, the community’s effort has made the city look noticeably tidier — a reminder that civic pride doesn’t end when the festival lights go out. The quiet clean-up speaks of a different celebration: one of ownership, participation, and the shared hope of keeping Shillong beautiful.
