The fifth edition of the Me’gong Festival wrapped up on Saturday with a dazzling finale in the Garo Hills, drawing more than 55,000 visitors over two days and reaffirming Meghalaya’s rising profile as one of India’s most vibrant cultural destinations. With international headliners, acclaimed national artistes and powerful homegrown talent sharing the spotlight, this year’s edition delivered one of the region’s most memorable celebrations of music, culture and community.
Day 2 closed on a high note, with British pop group Blue, global EDM duo Yellow Claw, singer-songwriter Prateek Kuhad and Bollywood star Kanika Kapoor performing to roaring crowds at the main Aski Stage. “Garo Hills’ Me’gong Festival is amazing! The crowd was on fire,” said Antony Costa of Blue, as the band thanked audiences and described the region as “a paradise”. Kapoor set the tone with a string of high-energy hits—from Chittiyaan Kalaiyan and Baby Doll to London Thumakda—calling the Meghalaya audience “one of the best” she has ever performed for. Prateek Kuhad followed with a soulful set featuring Saansein and Cold Mess, before Blue took fans down memory lane with One Love, All Rise and Guilty. Yellow Claw closed the night with an explosive EDM set that transformed the festival grounds into a sea of lights and cheering fans.
Local favourites, including Hoi Hoi Makbil, G-Hills Finest, Crack Gang, Rough Road and Nokpante, kept the momentum strong on the Kingfisher Stage earlier in the evening, drawing thousands on their own. The festival opened on Friday with a spectacular line-up featuring Richard Marx, Neeti Mohan, Julian Marley and Nucleya. Marx performed classics as well as unreleased tracks from his upcoming album Afterhours, marking a rare and widely celebrated appearance in India.
Neeti Mohan’s performance drew massive crowds, and her tribute to Zubeen Garg through Mayabini—performed in Garg’s birthplace Tura—became one of the most shared moments of the festival. Julian Marley’s reggae rhythms and Nucleya’s high-energy set sealed the opening night as an unforgettable experience for festival-goers. Seven emerging acts under the Chief Minister’s Meghalaya Grassroots Music Project (CM-MGMP) also performed on Day 1, a major opportunity for young artists to share the stage with global performers. Several described the experience as transformative.
The Me’gong Festival offered far more than music, attracting families, travellers and cultural enthusiasts. Highlights included: The Great Garo Hills Cook Off, showcasing indigenous flavours with MasterChef India Season 8 runner-up Nambie Jessica Marak as guest judge, traditional sports, a bustling Brew Village, a colourful Cosplay Contest, and the Miss & Mr Me’gong Contest and a thriving craft and food market, VR experiences, and entrepreneur stalls under PRIME Meghalaya.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma attended the opening day, with this year’s edition further advancing his vision of placing Meghalaya firmly on India’s cultural and concert map. In recent years, the state has drawn global artists through festivals such as Me’gong, Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival and Winter Tales, strengthening tourism, music and the creative economy.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma later praised Richard Marx’s performance on X, describing it as deeply nostalgic and impactful. He said the team was impressed by the artiste’s commanding stage presence and noted that Marx’s appearance elevated the festival atmosphere, affirming Me’gong’s reputation as one of the region’s signature cultural showcases. As the lights dimmed over the Bolbokgre-Watregre grounds, the Me’gong Festival concluded with powerful performances, unforgettable moments and a renewed sense of pride in the cultural identity of the Garo Hills.