The final day was a fitting climax. Internationally acclaimed British band Clean Bandit delivering an electrifying performance that had the audience swaying to their global hits. Bollywood sensation Kanika Kapoor added her signature charm, while Dutch-Moroccan DJ R3HAB brought the house down with his high-energy beats, transforming the arena into a pulsating dance floor. Local stars, including Khasi Bloodz and SK Korn, continued to shine, representing the vibrant talent of Meghalaya and showcasing the region’s deep connection to music.

The festival kicked off on November 15 with a spectacular Day 1, headlined by global R&B icon Akon, who mesmerized the crowd with hits from his Superfan Tour. Legendary band Boney M, on their Farewell Tour, delivered a nostalgic performance. Other highlights include renditions by Jasleen Royal, an electrifying show by international artist Lucas, and powerful performances by regional favourites like The Great Society, Rito Riba and Queen Sensation. The day also featured the highly anticipated Sakura Fashion Design Contest, alongside art installations and diverse food stalls that kept the crowd engaged throughout.

Adding to the festival’s success, the Japan Arena stood out as a hub, hosting anime screenings, cosplay competitions, and interactive activities that drew in fans of all ages. Across both days, visitors also enjoyed karaoke sessions, sumo wrestling demonstrations, and a host of engaging activities in the Japanese arena that made the festival an inclusive experience for all.

Akon, who arrived Assam yesterday was welcomed with a spectacular Khasi Welcome to Northeast at Hotel Mayfair Guwahati. Followed which, he also experienced a traditional welcome by the Khasi Seng Community.

The relentless efforts of Government of Meghalaya, through these festivals not only brings thousands of tourists to the state, creating an exceptional example of boosting economic growth but also promotes the local and aspiring stars of Meghalaya making the MGMP Artists perform at such a big platform. While inaugurating the festival yesterday, Hon’ble DoNER Minister Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia shared his incredible experience saying he has never seen such energy in any festival across India. He lauded the efforts of the Government and the people of Meghalaya, saying, “Hats off to Conrad; hats off to you all(the people of Meghalaya)”

Under the leadership of Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Conrad K. Sangma, the government has worked tirelessly to elevate the festival’s stature on the global stage. The seamless organization, diverse programming, and focus on showcasing local talent alongside international stars exemplify the vision and dedication of the Hon’ble Chief Minister, who is himself a musician and an ardent lover of music.

• As the curtain falls on this year’s festivities, the Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival has once again proven to be a landmark event, bringing together the best of global and local culture while celebrating the unique beauty of Meghalaya’s Cherry
  

  Blossoms.

Hon’ble Tourism Minister Bah Paul Lyngdoh stated, “It is indeed a privilege for me to bring the curtains down for the 4th edition of Lit Fest, 2024.” He said that this edition of Shillong Literary Festival has been the most successful edition of the literary festivals. “Lit Fest, 2024 is just a precursor for the next level where we will elevate and enhance the experience of literature.” He thanked his excellency, the Ambassador of Turkiye for inviting musicians of Meghalaya and accepted the invitation stating that the state will certainly take its best musicians to perform in Turkiye. Cuisine, culture, climate, customs- all of these are very strong and powerful USPs of Meghalaya, as a state.

Day Three of the festival opened with ‘The Lighthouse Family’, a candid conversation with His Excellency Firat Sunel, Ambassador of Türkiye, moderated by Cyril V. D. Diengdoh, IAS, Director of Tourism, Government of Meghalaya. His excellency Firat Sunel gave an eloquent introduction into his book where he took the audience to the “historical fiction set against the backdrop of Second World War.” On being asked about how he manages diplomacy and literature together, he added, “As a diplomat you meet a lot of people. You don’t need to run behind the story. The story comes to you.”

The session Words on Screen: Bollywood x Northeast, featuring Nicholas Kharkongor, Director of Axone and Nancy Nisa Beso in conversation with Mayank Shekhar, explored the intricate relationship between the film industry and the representation of Northeast India.

Travel: The World and Northeast India, a conversation between Samrat Choudhury and Mitra Phukan, took attendees on a metaphorical journey reflecting on growing prominence of travel writing. Choudhury, while discussing his book ‘A Braided River’ and his travel anecdotes besides the Brahmaputra, said, “The Brahmaputra is the original highway of the entire region”.

The magic of oral storytelling came alive during the session: The Power and Magic of Oral Storytelling, where Desmond Kharmawphlang engaged in a spirited discussion with Janet Dkhar. Desmonfmd Kharmawphlabg said, “There is a misconception that all the epics are written. There are these amazingly long complex stories which are not characteristic as epics as they are not there in the written version”, reflecting on oral storytelling in Garo hills and Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya.

Nina Sabnani, in conversation with Samanda Nora Pyngrope, unravelled the art of storytelling in animation and film during the session Crafting Worlds.

In the penultimate session of the three-day celebration of literature titled ‘Publishing Unveiled: The Art of Fact and Fiction’, Elizabeth Kuruvilla and Anindita Ghose examined the delicate balance between truth and imagination in publishing. The session provided aspiring writers with valuable insights into navigating the world of literature and publishing.

The festival concluded with a closing ceremony, featuring a keynote address by His Excellency Firat Sunel in presence of Bah Paul Lyngdoh, Hon’ble Minister of Tourism. The welcome address to the closing ceremony was given by Cyril VD Diengdoh, Director of Tourism, Government of Meghalaya.

The evening culminated in a mesmerising musical performance, Mamma Mia, by the talented students at St. Edmund’s School, leaving the audience enthralled. Every evening, the artists from MGMP performed in the festival alluring the visitors.

The 4th edition of this literary extravaganza, till date, has been the most successful festival in terms of footfall (Over 15,000 visitors) as well the line-up of speakers and moderators, ranging from the legends like Vikram Seth, Shobha De, Jerry Pinto, Anita Agnihotri, Arupjyoti Saikia, Kynpham S Nongkynirh, Sanjoy Hazarika, Madhu Raghavendra, Patricia Mukhim, Malavika Banerjee, Kanishka Gupta and many other doyens from the field of art, literature and cinema.

UK Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds paid tribute, calling Tata a “titan of the business world” who played a significant role in shaping British industry.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences, describing Tata as a “visionary business leader, compassionate soul and an extraordinary human being.” Modi, deeply saddened by his passing, reflected on their “countless interactions” in a tribute shared on X.

Shahnaz Husain, founder of The Shahnaz Husain Group expressed her condolences and said, “I had the honour of meeting Ratan Tata, albeit briefly, during an event that celebrated the achievements of Indian enterprises on the global stage.” When introduced to him, he greeted me with a warm smile and, in his characteristic understated manner, said, ‘You have taken Ayurveda to the world; I have taken India to the world.’ Those words, so simple yet powerful, have stayed with me ever since. He was a role model and inspiration to the world. His kind of person who lived and loved will never be born again.”

N. Chandrasekaran, Tata Sons Chairman, expressed, “On behalf of the entire Tata family, I extend our deepest condolences to his loved ones. His legacy will continue to inspire us as we work to uphold the values he so passionately championed.”

National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah and PDP’s Iltija Mufti condoled the death of Ratan Tata, saying he was a humble man whose contribution can never be forgotten.

“It is shocking. He (Tata) was a humble man. He opened his family organisation for everyone. He took his company to the entire world,” Abdullah said.

Tata’s passing marks the loss of a leader who transformed Indian business market. His leadership, humility and commitment to social responsibility earned him admiration worldwide. Tributes emphasise not only his business achievements but also his remarkable kindness. Tata’s legacy will continue to inspire future generations.

The THSC awards recognise companies that rank in skilling and training performance. Other prominent awardees were JITM, PVR, The Leela, The Oberoi Group of Hotels, and Frankfinn. Frankfinn’s history of excellence is already documented; the “Best Training Partner” award by THSC was received by Frankfinn four times between 2017 and 2023. This year’s recognition further consolidates its position of providing quality training through its various centres spread across India, including smaller cities.

With the industry experience since 1993, Frankfinn has committed its three decades to the cause of carving the future of aspiring air hostesses and is now geared up for exponential growth. As an add-on to this partnership with Air India, the detailed cabin service familiarisation is extended to the students, culminating in a co-branded certificate that enhances their credentials. Frankfinn centres are fully equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure like advanced computer labs and audio-visual aids, creating a professional learning environment. Courses are conducted by the institute’s highly trained resource persons, and hands-on training is given on leading computerised reservation systems used globally in the airline, hotel, and travel industries.

Frankfinn is affiliated with NSDC (National Skill Development Corporation) and THSC. It has showcased robust placement records, where nearly 11,000 students were placed in the aviation, hospitality, travel, and customer service sectors in one year. The institute has continuously been in the Limca Book of Records for the highest cabin crew placements yearly. The highest salary package offered to Frankfinn students stands at Rs 1.75 lakh per month, which speaks volumes about the quality of training imparted by this institute.

Honours for Frankfinn include “Best Air Hostess Training Institute” for eleven successive years from 2011-2022 and the Gold Award for “Best Higher Vocational Institute for Skill Development” by Assocham for four successive years from 2016-2019. The institute also won the “Best Aviation Training Institute-2021” titin the Assocham Knowledge Management Virtual Meet and Awards on Leadership Excellence. It was awarded the “Outstanding Contribution in Cabin Crew Training” award by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 2019. More recently, in January 2022, Frankfinn was awarded the “Best Institute in Placement” at the Assocham Education Excellence Summit cum Awards Ceremony.

“Celebrating six years is a momentous occasion for TravWalky. Our journey has been fueled by our unwavering dedication to delivering exceptional travel experiences and our passion for innovation ,” said Priyank Jain, Founder and Director of TravWalky. We are grateful to our clients, partners, and dedicated team members who have been instrumental in our success. As we look to the future, we remain committed to pushing boundaries and setting new standards in the travel trade industry.”

TravWalky has expanded its footprint globally, serving travelers from diverse regions and enhancing its network of trusted partners. The company has introduced state-of-the-art technology solutions to streamline travel planning, booking, and management processes, ensuring a seamless experience for clients. As TravWalky celebrates this milestone, it remains focused on its mission to revolutionize the travel industry through continuous innovation, exceptional service, and a customer-centric approach.

About TravWalky

TravWalky is a premier travel solutions provider, dedicated to delivering personalized and innovative travel experiences. Founded in 2018 by Priyank Jain, TravWalky has rapidly grown to become a trusted name in the travel trade industry, known for its commitment to quality, sustainability, and customer satisfaction. The company offers a wide range of services, including travel planning, booking, and management, catering to both individual travelers and corporate clients.

Quote by Priyank Jain, Founder and Director of TravWalky:
“Celebrating six years is a momentous occasion for TravWalky. Our journey has been fueled by our unwavering dedication to delivering exceptional travel experiences and our passion for innovation. We are grateful to our clients, partners, and dedicated team members who have been instrumental in our success. As we look to the future, we remain committed to pushing boundaries and setting new standards in the travel trade industry.”