Cherry Blossom Festival of Shillong kick started
The India International Cherry Blossom Festival 2018, celebrating the unique autumn flowering of Himalayan Cherry Blossoms kick started in Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya, with several cultural events.
Conrad Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya inaugurated the event at Polo 5th Ground (Dalang Open Stage) on Wednesday.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the CM said Cherry Blossom festival is one of the greatest aspects to promote tourism in Meghalaya and the festival will attract explorers to the State.
“The trees have blossomed three weeks earlier. We can witness 70 per cent of the Cherry Blossom. It will be a great opportunity for the scientists and other people to study the aspect,” said the CM.
The peculiar nature of this tree provides an opportunity for scientists and other interested people to study mostly pink and sometimes white Cherry Blossoms.
Japanese Ambassador to India, Kenji Hiramatsu was the chief guest in the opening ceremony of the festival. The Ambassador is leading a Japanese delegation that engage in a dialogue, at State Convention Center, which is entitled ‘Celebrating the Shillong-Sakura Connect- Idea Exchange on Socio Economic Partnerships’.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma with Ambassador of Japan to India Kenji Hiramatsu
Speaking on the Meghalaya and Japan collaboration, Sangma said, “We are looking forward to a long term as well as short term and medium collaboration with the government of Japan, building on the commonality of the remarkable tree which binds the two countries and make the state of Meghalaya and Japan, the home of unique benediction of nature.”
According to him, the relationship between the state and Japan is far beyond the Cherry Blossom festival while the event will ensure that the relationship grows in the future.
“There is a programme where the government of India is trying to connect different aspects of culture, different circuits in the Northeastern region and trying to project NE as a tourism destination as a whole,” he said.
Visitors of the blossom festival can enjoy fashion shows, rock concerts, a beauty pageant and even compete in an amateur Golf Tournament. Alongside, there will be stalls showcasing the region’s food, wine, and crafts and there are several Japanese cultural events, a Japanese Food Pavilion and a Higher Education Stall in partnership with the Embassy of Japan in India.
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