Another year, another time to commemorate the blooming of cherry blossom trees in and around Shillong city. The streets are filled with the hues of pinks and purples as people welcome the Cherry Blossom Festival 2021 with festive zeal.
A symbol of good luck, love, and springtime, these cherry blossom trees often last no more than two weeks and are also a symbol of renewal and the ephemeral nature of life.
About the festival
To appreciate the immense beauty of these trees, the state of Meghalaya has been celebrating the Cherry Blossom festival since 2016. Last year, the festival was called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation. Nonetheless, this year the festival came back with a bang.
The festival started off with an inauguration by Meghalaya’s Chief Minister, Conrad K. Sangma, along with Satoshi Suzuki, Ambassador of Japan to India.
The 3-day festival was held at two venues: Ward’s Lake & Polo. It was exclusively filled with fun and thrilling events, displays of art, musical performances, and much more.
The first edition of the Shillong Literary Festival was also a part of the Cherry Blossom Festival 2021. The CM inaugurated the Literary Festival at Ward’s Lake with the hope to give opportunities to writers, readers, and authors from the state to connect with literati from other parts of the country.
Shillong Literary Festival 2021
Artistic displays at Cherry Blossom Festival 2021
Literary Events
The literary event was a beautiful way of celebrating an art form, giving people a chance to discover and meet authors. On all three days, a number of activities were held focusing on cherry blossoms in painting, illustrations, and visual stories.
From exploring various stalls to having a fun spree at the book donation stall, it sure was a great experience for art and literary lovers.
Visitors thronging the stalls at Cherry Blossom Festival 2021
Grilled meat served at Cherry Blossom Festival 2021
Cultural events
Musical concerts, fashion shows, and other cultural activities have always been a prominent part of the Cherry Blossom Festival. Without an exception, this year’s celebration was also summed up with a couple of musical performances, cultural songs and dances, and DJ performances, driving the crowd crazy.
Apart from performances from the local artists, the festival also featured international artists such as C.N.R Mafia (Rock-UAE), Pixy (K-Pop South Korea), Pyra (Pop-Thailand), and Mari Ferrari (EDM-Portugal).
A band performing at Cherry Blossom Festival 2021
Boating at Ward's Lake; one of the venues of Cherry Blossom Festival 2021
A new beginning
To sum up the 3-day event, Cherry Blossom Festival ended up with a good note and a refreshing week. The festival may have concluded but you can still witness the cherry blossoms before it fades off.
