The Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival 2025 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, blended international stardom with local artistry, showcasing the State's cultural richness while driving tourism, employment, and economic growth. The event once again proved that Meghalaya is setting new benchmarks for large-scale music and arts festivals in the country. "I have attended the Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival four times now. This festival fills my heart with joy, excitement, and memorable moments that I cherish every year, making it my most favourite celebration," said Marcelo Rebello, a music aficionado, who flew all the way from Goa with his wife Natalie.
"For sure we are returning for next year's Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival," Marcello's wife Natalie said. The festival kicked off on 15 November with explosive double bill as Jason Derulo and The Script took over the stage with back-to -back powerhouse performances, joined by Bollywood sensation Nora Fatehi adding her signature flair and energy to the audience. Canadian dancer-actress Nora Fatehi commanded the arena by performing songs from her signature flair 'World of Nora', including her newly released pop song "What do I know (Just a girl) dazzling the crowd with her dynamic stage presence and dance moves. The atmosphere hit a fever pitch as Irish rock band The Script exploded onto the stage, launching their set with the powerful, crowd-uniting anthem "Superheroes" before unleashing a powerful wave of their greatest hits.
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The crowd was electrified by songs like "The Man Who Can't Be Moved" and "6 Degrees of Separation", alongside the dynamic "Both Ways" and the poignant "If You Can See Me Now". Fulfilling a promise he'd made to a fan; frontman Danny O'Donoghue created a truly heart-touching moment as he invited the fan to join him on stage, and the two performed the band's chart-topper, "Never Seen Anything Quite Like You," side-by-side. The energy in the stadium reached its peak when the band launched into their stadium-sized anthem, "Hall of Fame", creating a massive, eruptive singalong concluding their historic show in Shillong. The final day of the event was a fitting climax. Aqua, a Danish-Norwegian eurodance band, best known for their 1997 single "Barbie Girl", delivering an electrifying performance with many fans enjoying the nostalgic moment.
"It was our maiden performance in this part of the world. We had our best of the time and everyone out there had fun. We are hopeful to return to Shillong," Lene Nystrom, the lead female vocalist of Aqua, said. The JN Stadium further electrified when American rapper-singer Tyga took the centre stage and performed his popular tracks for the first time in Shillong. Known for his on-stage twerking, the rapper sang Ayy Macarena, Taste, Swish, About You and Ayo among others. "Tyga's performance will be unforgettable. Tyga is timeless and that's that!" an elated John Lyngdoh, rapping Tyga's "Ayy Macarena" with his group of friends. The Cherry Blossom Festival 2025, also paid special tributes to legendary Assamese singer Zubeen Garg -- honouring his contributions to the music world and the region, by Zublee Baruah, Priyanka Bharali, Arupjyoti Baruah, and Prabin Bora.
Other highlights include renditions by Talented local artists such as Meba Ofilia, Dappest and adL, Zephyrtone, Walter Wahlang, Khasi Bloodz, Prismer, ALIVE, Larger Than 90, Bending Waves, rock band Girish and the Chronicles, and Arius. The event also featured a range of activities such as the traditional 'Mr and Ms Cherry Blossom' competition, cosplay, and Cherry Blossom arm wrestling. Celebrated worldwide as a symbol of spring, the Cherry Blossom Festival, the Cherry Blossom Festival which is deeply entrenched in Japanese culture where it is known as Hanami, or "flower viewing." A Japan Arena - at the William Ward's Lake - celebrated the cultural bond between Meghalaya and Japan. The arena featured Japanese art, music, cuisine, and traditional performances, offering visitors a glimpse into Japan's rich heritage.
The Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival has re-created itself as one of the most vibrant music scenes of the country, transforming its rich cultural heritage into a thriving concert and festival economy. Government officials say the success of the festival has transformed the state's cultural landscape. During the last year's festival season, an investment of Rs 23.5 crore generated Rs 133.42 crore, which is more than 500 per cent return on investment. Over 76,000 visitors attended various festivals organised by the government across just 13 days. This contributed nearly 5 per cent to the state's annual tourist footfall. The events created more than 5,500 daily jobs, supporting youth, women-led kitchens, and local artisans. Moreover, in the Chief Minister's Meghalaya Grassroots Music Project (CM-MGMP) 7,750 artists are registered.
These artists have produced over 13,000 live shows and created 175 salaried jobs for local coordinators and crew. "When it comes to music and knowing every lyric, Shillong truly stands unmatched. The ambience was magical, the energy incredible. India's concert economy is buzzing, and Shillong is its heartbeat," Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, who attended the two-day events, remarked. The festival ended on a high note with a grand finale which left many festival goers vowing to return for next year's festival. The two-day festival concluded on Saturday night and Polo Grounds in Meghalaya's state capital attracted more than 50,000 visitors each day, celebrating music, at the "India's rock capital".