Shillong, Sep 2: The state government is confident that Shillong will be able to cope with the influx of visitors as well as local music lovers who will throng Polo Ground for this year’s Cherry Blossom Festival on November 14-15.
The first year’s event was held in Shillong but was plagued by traffic chaos and would-be concert goers who were turned away at the gate when the venue became overcrowded. Police had to resort to teargas when a few individuals became violent.
After that the festival was moved to Bhoirymbong. There have been hiccups there too, not least when heavy rain forced one day of the festival to be cancelled in 2023. Last year, one person was killed in a collision with a vehicle in a VIP convoy on the way to the event. 2022’s event was cancelled altogether after the Mukroh Massacre.
The festival is now returning to Shillong as the Bhoirymbong ground is being utilised for a cricket facility.
This year the event will take place on November 14-15, Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh said today. The JN Stadium will be the venue, offering a “different feel altogether” to visitors. The road leading to Polo Ground will be pedestrianised, with stalls, exhibits and a walk-in experience for festival-goers.
“This year, we are bringing a world-class experience to Shillong. Nora Fatehi, a Moroccan-Canadian performer who captivated global audiences during her performance at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar 2022, will be making her first-ever stage appearance in India at Cherry Blossom 2025,” Lyngdoh said.
The JN Stadium and nearby facilities are expected to accommodate around 30,000 visitors. According to Jason Manners, a member of the Cherry Blossom Festival organising committee, over 9,000 tickets have already been sold to tourists from outside Meghalaya, with sales continuing steadily.
On concerns about traffic congestion, Lyngdoh assured: “We have tackled this issue for several years now, so I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t be able to do it this year as well.”
The Minister noted that the previous edition of Cherry Blossom had seen a government investment of Rs 5 crore, generating an economic stimulus of Rs 59.98 crore. For 2025, the tentative budget has been fixed at Rs 4 crore.
When asked about the remuneration for international artists, Manners declined to disclose details citing non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) but explained that costs are managed by sharing expenses across tours in Southeast Asia.
“Cherry Blossom is a festival for the masses, and we select artists with the widest appeal and following,” he said.
