Meghalaya

Meghalaya achieved a major creative milestone with the completion of the first full-length feature film under the Meghalaya Film Tourism Policy 2025, marking a new chapter in India’s emerging film destinations. The Telugu feature 'Baa Baa Black Sheep', directed by Guni Manchikanti and produced by Chitralayam Studios, has completed its entire shoot in the State, with every frame captured across Meghalaya’s dramatic landscapes, particularly in Sohra. Shot in a remarkably efficient 25 days, the film employed nearly 2,000 local youth across various departments, making it one of the State’s largest creative employment initiatives to date and a landmark example of Meghalaya’s growing film-production capabilities. Conrad K. Sangma, Chief Minister while acknowledging the achievement, noted that t...

Meghalaya’s cement manufacturers have told the state government that the 16-day strike called by the Meghalaya Commercial Truck Owners and Drivers Association (MCTODA) between October 27 and November 11 severely disrupted movement of cement and clinker from the Jaintia Hills cluster, and that a steep increase in freight rates sought by the trucker associations could unsettle the state’s construction economy at a time when the industry is still recovering from the disruption. In a detailed memorandum submitted to the Deputy Chief Ministers, the Jaintia Hills Cement Manufacturers Association (JHCMA) said the agitation had an adverse impact across the supply chain, as it not only halted the movement of vehicles belonging to the association but also affected trucks operated by other owners al...

The Shillong Literary Festival began its fifth edition on Wednesday with a strong message from writers, scholars and cultural voices from India and abroad — Meghalaya’s stories deserve a wider audience, far beyond the state’s hills. Set against the pink bloom of cherry blossoms around Ward’s Lake, the opening ceremony marked the start of three days of discussions centred on literature, identity and the growing place of regional languages in India’s cultural landscape. This year’s festival, organised by the Meghalaya Tourism Department, has been described as the biggest edition yet. Officials said the event has slowly evolved into a platform that brings students, young writers and seasoned authors together. One senior official noted that the festival has sparked “a whole movement of engage...

The 5th Shillong Literary Festival 2025 commenced today where eminent authors, columnists, and artists converged at the iconic Ward’s Lake, currently draped in pink Cherry Blossoms. The setting offered the perfect backdrop for literary lovers, marking the beginning of three days of literary brilliance and creative dialogues. The opening day witnessed the presence of some of the most distinguished literary and cultural figures of the region and the world, including Booker International Prize-winning writer Smti Banu Mushtaq; internationally acclaimed Spanish author Francesc Miralles; Sanjoy Hazarika, Sam Dalrymple, Jerry Pinto, Prof. Desmond Kharmawphlang, Smti Malvika Banerjee, Sonal Jain, Dennis Laishram, Patricia Mukhim; and several celebrated local writers such as Smti Streamlet Dkhar ...

The much-awaited Me’gong Festival is all set to be held on December 5 and 6, 2025 in Garo Hills. This year’s festival will. Featuretwo of Bollywood’s most loved voices – Neeti Mohan and Kanika Kapoor. International performers for the opening day and the concluding day will be announced soon. Set to take the stags on December 5, is Neeti Mohan. She is widely regarded as one of India’s finest playback singers and is celebrated for popular hits including Ishq Wala Love, Jiya Re, Nainowale Ne, and Kheech Meri Photo. On December 6, festival visitors will groove to the beat of Kanika Kapoor who is known for blockbuster hits such as Baby Doll, Chittiyaan Kalaiyaan, Lovely, and Jugni Ji. Me’gong Festival continues to grow as one of Meghalaya’s landmark cultural showcases, celebrating the rich ...

The Shillong Literary Festival is back, in its Fifth Edition, with a glittering gathering of over 60 award-winning international, national, and regional authors which promises to be the largest such literary gathering in the North-east, including International Booker Prize winners Banu Mustaq and Shehan Karukaratne. Other iconic writers presenting their work include Francesc Miralles, the Spanish author of the best-selling Ikigai, and Sam Darylmple, whose Shattered Lands has just been published.  Joining them is a list of major writers from Meghalaya, Assam, and Nagaland, including the Streamlet Dkhar, Janice Pariat, Aiyinti Nongbri, Bandarilin Bairo, and Garo writers Barbara Sangma and Colnat Marak. In fact, for the first time in the history of the festival, which the Meghalaya Gove...

The Cherry Blossom Festival 2025 in Meghalaya shimmered with colour, music and youthful energy as Lapynshai Marak and Rohan Pradhan were crowned Miss and Mr Cherry Blossom 2025. The event, one of the festival’s most anticipated attractions, celebrated emerging local talent while promoting culture, confidence and community spirit among the state’s youth. In a closely contested competition, Catherine Defini Diengdoh and Na-i-Staphi Nola Lyngdoh secured the 1st and 2nd Runners-up positions in the Miss category. On the men’s side, Joel Desmond Nongrum and Abiezer Dan claimed the runner-up titles, drawing praise for their poise and stage presence. Organised by the Miss Meghalaya Organisation, the pageant added glamour and excitement to the broader festival celebrations. Participants showcas...

Two students of North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) in Shillong were critically injured after a security guard of the university, allegedly driving in an intoxicated state, rammed his vehicle into them on Monday evening, officials said on Tuesday. The incident occurred around 7 pm near Gate No. 2 of the campus. According to officials, the guard lost control of the car while driving under the influence of alcohol. Before hitting the students, the vehicle reportedly struck a parked scooter and then veered towards the gate. The injured students, identified as Dartingen Pohdukriek and Stephanie Shadap, both from the Chemistry Department, were walking along the roadside when the speeding vehicle hit them. CCTV footage reportedly captured the car approaching at high speed moments before the...

In a major step toward expanding international employment opportunities, the Meghalaya government inaugurated a dedicated Japanese language training centre in Shillong on Monday. The initiative is aimed at preparing the state’s youth for overseas placements in high-demand sectors such as healthcare, hospitality, and IT. According to officials, the state already sees tangible benefits from overseas skilling. 37 nurses currently working in Japan reportedly send an average of ₹1 lakh per month back to their families, highlighting the long-term economic potential of international employment for Meghalaya’s workforce. Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma described the launch as “a very important and a very big step for our state and for our youth,” adding that the programme aspires to enable 10,...

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday announced that the state government will sanction Rs 50 crore this month to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for the development of the Airport at Jengjal in West Garo Hills district. The CM made this announcement at a function after inaugurating a new police station building in West Garo Hills. The airport, officially known as Baljek Airport, has remained unutilised for years and is currently in a dilapidated condition. The chief minister highlighted that the airport’s revival follows an MoU signed earlier this year between the state government and AAI for operations, maintenance and technical management. He said 19-seater aircraft under Air Alliance are expected to begin services, with Shillong–Tura flights listed as the first p...