Country's first cherry blossom fest begins in Shillong

SHILLONG: The pink and white of cherry trees in full blossom lent a colourful hue to Shillong even as the country's first-ever Cherry Blossom Festival got under way here on Monday.

Launching the four-day festival in the presence of a host of tourists and locals alike on the Polo Grounds here, chief minister Mukul Sangma on Monday said, "Nature's gift of cherry blossoms is one of the several elements that make Meghalaya an attractive destination for tourists looking for a short break from the hustle and bustle of polluted cities."

Incidentally, one of the most famous cherry blossom festivals in the world is the one hosted by Japan. The festival is known as Hanami or Sakura and draws thousands of tourists to the country in the month of March every year.

Sangma also released a coffee-table book called 'Cherry Blossom-Sakura for Peace, Prosperity and Sustainable Development' and authored by Dinabandhu Sahoo, director of the

Institute of Bio-resources

and

Sustainable Development

(IBSD), who conceptualized the Cherry Blossom Festival in India.

IBSD, a national institute working under the Centre's department of biotechnology, jointly organized the event with the

Meghalaya Basin Development Authority

and the forest department.

"The IBSD is committed to the socio-economic development of the region and this partnership is only one of several initiatives focused on sustainable utilization of the unique bio-resources of the state," Sahoo said. He added that the United Nations has declared 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.

"We must plan for future editions of this festival and inform the world that such activities are also possible in India," he said.

Chief secretary KS Kropha, in his address, also underscored the huge tourism potential of the festival and expressed hope that in the years to come, it would draw thousands to Meghalaya.

A host of programmes, including fashion shows, art competitions and a musical extravaganza, besides ethnic food stalls, are the major attractions of the festival.