Meghalaya's Me’gong Festival concludes with spectacular finale in Garo Hills

Mersquogong Festival 2025 concluded with a spectacular finale in the Garo Hills of Meghalaya drawing thousands of visitors who witnessed international headliners national performers and powerful homegrown talent over two days The festival was attended by over 55000 people from the region and beyondThe second brought an electric close to the festival as British pop sensation Blue global electronic duo Yellow Claw singersongwriter Prateek Kuhad and Bollywood favourite Kanika Kapoor performed backtoback on the Aski Stage to roaring crowdsAntony Costa from the band Blue stated ldquoGaro Hillsrsquo Megong Festival is amazing The crowd was on fireVocalist Simon Webbe along with Antony Costa Lee Ryan and Duncan James thanked the festivalgoers stating ldquoGreatGreat turnout thank you everybody one love to you all Garo Hills is amazing a paradise so good thank yourdquoEach act added a distinct energy beginning with Kanika Kapoorrsquos hightempo hits like Chittiyaan Kalaiyan Baby Doll Jawaani Le Doobi to her rendition of Desi Girl Itrsquos the time to Disco London Thumakda Matlabi and many other Bollywood superhits She added her delight in performing in Meghalaya for the second time and praised the visitors for being one of the best audiences she has ever receivedAn electric and everenergetic beginning to the evening followed Prateek Kuhadrsquos soulful melodies Visitors were drawn to Kuhadrsquos renditions like Saansein Cold Mess and many soulful songs that defined the beautiful eveningThis followed Bluersquos nostalgic pop anthems The audience in thousands sang together vibing with One Love All Rise Guilty One Last Time and many moreThen came Yellow Clawrsquos explosive EDM finale turning the festival grounds into a sea of lights and cheering fans all across the BolbokgreWatregre Festival GroundEarlier the evening also brought crowd favourites such as Hoi Hoi Makbil GHills Finest Crack Gang Rough Road and Nokpante to the Kingfisher Stage which attracted thousands of people alikeWhile the second day captured an unforgettable finale the festivalrsquos momentum was set on the opening day with a starstudded lineup featuring Richard Marx Neeti Mohan Julian Marley and Nucleya Marx performed classics and unreleased tracks from his upcoming album Afterhours marking a rare appearance in IndiaNeeti Mohanrsquos Bollywood hits drew enormous crowds and her moving rendition of Mayabini a tribute to Zubeen Garg in his birthplace of Tura became one of the most shared and talkedabout moments of the festivalJulian Marleyrsquos reggae set and Nucleyarsquos highoctane closing performance sealed Day 1 as a musical spectacle not seen before in the regionThe Chief Ministers Meghalaya Grassroots Music Project CMMGMP continued to be a significant platform at the festival with seven emerging CMMGMP bands performing on the opening day a rare opportunity to share the same event as global performersMany young artists said the experience was transformational calling it the biggest platform of their careers so farBeyond music Mersquogong Festival offered an immersive cultural experience that drew families tourists and festival enthusiasts throughout the weekend The Great Garo Hills Cook Off saw participants reinterpret traditional food using indigenous ingredients with Nambie Jessica Marak runnerup of MasterChef India Season 8 present as a special guest to help judge the competition Traditional sports a vibrant Brew Village a colourful Cosplay Contest Miss amp Mr Mersquogong Contest a bustling craft and food market VR experiences and stalls by entrepreneurs under PRIME Meghalaya added to the expansive range of attractionsThe opening day of the festival was graced by Conrad K Sangma Chief Minister of Meghalaya who has been vocal about making the northeastern state a key destination for Indiarsquos concert economyOver the last few years Meghalaya has hosted global performers across festivals like Mersquogong Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival and Winter Tales positioning the state as a cultural hub of the Northeast and creating new opportunities in tourism music and creative enterpriseAs the lights dim over the BolbokgreWatregre grounds the festival leaves behind a trail of powerful performances new memories and a renewed sense of pride in the artistic and cultural identity of the Garo Hills