Shillong welcomes New Year with fanfare

FROM A CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, Dec 31: Along with the rest of the world Shillong welcomed the New Year with fanfare.

Citizens of the city and tourists alike thronged the Khyndailad (Police Bazar) the commercial hub of the Shillong where the rotary and the street inside the market were illumited. Even the state old Assembly building was illumited with those thronging the area clicking ‘selfies’ and ‘groupies’. The biggest party of the year for the people of Shillong was, however, the Shillong Midnight Festival.

The State Government titled the festival as “North East India’s Biggest New Year’s Eve Celebration” which was held at the Polo Parking Lot.

The opening act for the New Year’s bash was a band med Otto Garage which was followed by gigs from Instinct and Soulmate. Later there was a performance by “Dajied” a folk fusion band, which was followed by performances by “Mellow Fellows”, “Hear” and “Notes of A’ronnga”.

Also there was a performance by the Dossers Urge which was followed by a “new year’s pledge” and an “earth song” by Lamphang Syiemlieh.

The countdown to the New Year was a DJs Favian, Duncan and Rex.

Respective localities in the city also organised their own programmes to welcome the New Year. In Laban, the Presbyterian Church 2017 by organizing a Gospel Concert. Midnight masses were also held in the various Churches of the city to ring in 2017.   

The party organized by the state government had a children’s corner, a magic show, it also had a food court which included-grill, barbeque, Indian and local cuisine and family buffet.

Meanwhile, the Forever Young held its annual “Midnight Swim” to welcome 2017. About 100 blocks of ice, each weighing 50 kgs were put inside the pool to make the event more challenging.

The Midnight Swim was held at the Saw Aiom Swimming Pool, Shyiap locality in Shillong.