Shillong, Nov 14: The India International Cherry Blossom Festival, 2018 kick started here on Wednesday.

Organised by the Meghalaya Forest and Environment Department in collaboration with the Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD) and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), the festival was inaugurated by Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma at Dalang Open Stage, 5^th Ground Polo here in the presence of Kenji Hiramatsu, Ambassador of Japan to India, Tourism Minister, Metbah Lyngdoh, Home Minister, James P.K Sangma, Health Minister, A.L Hek, Education Minister, Lahkmen Rymbui, Deputy Speaker, Timothy D Shira, Director, Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development, Prof. Dinabandhu Sahoo, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, C.P Marak, and other senior government officials.

In his inaugural address, the Chief Minister said that Cherry Blossom Festival 2018 is being elevated to international status with the participation of the Government of Japan through its delegates while stating that the significance of the festival goes beyond the blooming of cherry trees as it also creates a space for mutual exchange of culture and ideas.

According to Conrad, the festival has provided a platform to celebrate the autumn season and during this celebration, the festival will provide a mosaic of sports, culture and culinary delights of the State of Meghalaya, North East India and also Japan.

He also said that the Indo-Japan collaboration has taken a leap forward because of the efforts that have been made by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and the Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, while stating that the festival represents one of the ways of strengthening that relationship further.

The Chief Minister also said that the festival would give a big boost to tourism not just in Meghalaya but in the entire North Eastern Region, while expressing hope that Meghalaya witnesses more visitors than the impressive footfall at the festival held last year.

Kenji Hiramatsu, in his speech termed the festival a “symbol of friendship” between India and Japan and provides a channel for people to people and cultural exchanges between India and Japan which will in turn promote stronger bonds between the two countries.

During the programme, the Chief Minister handed over the Meghalaya Entrepreneurship Recognition Award (MEG-ERA) to Perastill R. Sangma, an entrepreneur from Garo Hills. The award consists of a citation and a cash award of Rs 1 lakh.

The Chief Minister along with other dignitaries visited the stalls put up at the venue by various Government departments and entrepreneurs.

The inauguration of the four-day festival featured events including sky diving, painting and drawing competition, dog show, storytelling, fashion show and cutie kids competition among others.