The Shillong leg of the 133rd Durand Cup was inaugurated by Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad K. Sangma, amidst a dazzling opening ceremony on Friday, ahead of the first game here at the newly renovated Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium between local side Shillong Lajong FC and Nepal’s Tribhuvan Army Football Team. This is the first time that the prestigious Durand Cup is being hosted in the beautiful football loving capital of Meghalaya. Also gracing the occasion were Air Marshal S P Dharkar, PVSM, AVSM, Air Officer Commanding in Chief, Eastern Air Command and Lt. General Ram Chander Tiwari, UYSM, AVSM, SM, GOC-in-Chief, Eastern Command. The opening ceremony had a slew of performances despite non-stop rain. However, one of the major highlights of the event, an Air Show, could not take place due to the inclement weather. Otherwise, the event had a Bhangra and Gatka performance by the 2nd and 13th Battalion of the Sikh Regiment, followed by a daredevil Motorcycle Show performed by the soldiers of Corps of Military Police. Song and dance then continued with performances by the Children Choir and a dance performance on the song “Badloo Ram Ka Badan” by the boys of the Assam Regimental Centre. The final performance was a Musical Ensemble by more than 800 schoolchildren from different schools of Shillong.