It’s Cherry Blossom Time In Shillong!

This November, head to Shillong and contemplate the impermanence of life by gazing at the fleeting beauty of blossoming flowers. No, wait, we’re not smoking anything. From 8 to 11 November 2017, Japan’s ancient custom of hanami (which involves said contemplation) is coming to Shillong. Organised by the government of Meghalaya in association with the Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD) and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), the Cherry Blossom Festival pays homage to the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. 

In countries like Germany, Rome, Finland and the US, celebrations of cherry blossom season are a testament to the worldwide and age-old fascination with the short-lived blooming of cherry trees, which make for a reliable indicator of seasons and weather as well. While cherry blossoms in most other countries signal spring, the drop in temperatures around winter bring on the pink and white blooms of the Wild Himalayan Cherry Tree (Prunus cerasoides) around October and November, making this the world’s only Autumn Cherry Blossom Festival. 

Blooms of the Wild Himalayan Cherry Tree (Prunus cerasoides var. canpanulata); photograph courtesy Wikimedia user Σ64 under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.

This is Shillong’s second year, with this edition turning international, featuring Japanese cultural events as well as an education fair. The festival will also showcase the cuisine, wine, arts and craft of Meghalaya’s Khasi hills, in addition to bicycle rallies, golfing events and football matches. Expect the days and nights to be resplendent with sights and sounds - illuminated cherry blossoms as you go for a night walk, and the music of live bands to keep you company - ranging from traditional folk music, unplugged western music and even a rock concert. Fitting, given that Shillong is considered the rock music capital of the country (its local music scene dates back to the ‘60s and the ‘70s), with India’s own Bob Marley Tribute fest (started way back in 1996), and being home to the incredible blues rock band Soulmate. 

Oh, and the kicker - entry is free! You just need to figure out a way to get there. Shillong is connected by road and air; the closest airport at Umroi/Barapani is 35km away. The nearest railhead is a little further away (about 128km) in Guwahati. 

For more details on the festival, head over to the website or the Facebook page.  You can also follow their updates on Instagram.

Cover image of Japanese cherry blossoms for illustrative purposes only; photograph courtesy Pixabay.