Shillong, Nov 17: The much awaited Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival 2023 failed to take off on Friday evening as incessant rain in the region played spoilsport.

The musical event, dubbed as the biggest and most exciting in the region post Covid pandemic, was to officially start by 5 PM but the continued rain since Thursday night did not allow for any activity.

The organisers have confirmed that Day 1 of the festival stands cancelled due to adverse weather conditions.

To compensate festival goers and collaborators, the organisers have announced that Day 1 ticket holders will be given free access to either Day 2 or Day 3. Season pass holders will get the amount of Friday’s show refunded on their RFID cards. In addition, alongside the option of attending any of the upcoming event days, the ticket holders can also claim full refund for Day 1 pass.

The organizers will be sharing a dedicated portal to facilitate the refund process.

The sudden rain in the northeast region, especially Khasi Hills, accompanied by strong winds is due to the cyclonic storm over Bay of Bengal, which moved North-Northeastwards late on Thursday afternoon. The rain is expected to continue till Sunday, according to an advisory by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The unexpected rain has dampened the festive mood as fans and attendees have been left saddened.

Hub News team found the venue to be sparsely filled as people decided not to turn up due to the rain, which has worsened the chilly winter.

The sound engineers at the venue also were not willing to risk damage to their equipment.

With the weather showing no signs of improving, rather heading for the worst as the cyclone intensifies, fear looms large on Saturday’s performances as well.

Meanwhile, there is no word on what happens to gigs lined up for Friday.