Me’gong fest in Garo Hills draws 55k visitors

Shillong: The Me’gong Festival, named after an exotic flower that grows in abundance in the Garo Hills, concluded with a musical finale at the Bolbokgre-Watregre grounds in Tura on Saturday.It drew over 55,000 visitors from far and near over two days, positioning Meghalaya’s emergence as a leader of India’s concert economy.“Me’Gong delivered yet another memorable experience and epic festival,” CM Conrad K Sangma said.With international headliners, national performers and home-grown talent sharing the stage, the festival delivered one of the region’s most memorable showcases of music, culture and community spirit.The concluding day brought an electric close to the festival as British pop sensation Blue, global electronic duo Yellow Claw, singer-songwriter Prateek Kuhad, and Bollywood favourite Kanika Kapoor performed back-to-back on the Aski Stage to crooning crowds.Earlier, the evening also brought crowd favourites such as Hoi Hoi Makbil, G-Hills Finest, Crack Gang, Rough Road and Nokpante to the delight of the audience.

The festival’s momentum was set on the opening day with a star-studded line-up featuring Richard Marx, Neeti Mohan, Julian Marley and Nucleya.Neeti Mohan’s Bollywood hits drew enormous crowds and her moving rendition of Mayabini, a tribute to Zubeen Garg in his birthplace of Tura, became one of the most shared and talked-about moments of the festival.The chief minister’s Meghalaya Grassroots Music Project (CM-MGMP) continued to be a significant platform at the festival, with seven emerging bands performing on the opening day.Beyond music, Me’gong Festival 2025 offered an immersive cultural experience that drew families, tourists and festival enthusiasts throughout the weekend.The Great Garo Hills Cook Off saw participants reinterpret traditional food using indigenous ingredients. Traditional sports, a vibrant brew village, a colourful cosplay contest, Miss & Mr Me’gong Contest, a bustling craft and food market, VR experiences, and stalls by entrepreneurs under PRIME Meghalaya added to the expansive range of attractions.