Date:31/10/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/10/31/stories/2006103100622000.htm

National

Autumn festival begins in Cherrapunjee

Shillong: The Autumn Festival in Meghalaya, which got under way with a record-breaking ensemble of drums here, on Monday shifted to Cherrapunjee, one of the wettest places on earth.

To attract more tourists at Cherrapunjee, dotted with low rolling hills and endowed with great scenic beauty, the Meghalaya Tourism Development Forum (MTDF) organised a waterfall run (a sort of marathon), archery, kite flying and drum fiesta which was participated by both local people and foreigners. Performances by street artists from New Zealand pepped up the festivities.

Adventure tourism and a food court were arranged by the MDTF for the `Shora' (as Cherrapunjee is known locally) event. The festival will travel to Thadlaskein in Jaintia Hills district on November 1 and return here on Thursday before moving again to Umiam, about 25 km from here. — PTI