Cherry Blossom Festival - Current Affairs Questions and Answers

1)   Which NE state became the first to hold a Cherry Blossom Festival?

a. Meghalaya
b. Mizoram
c. Manipur
d. None of the above
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Meghalaya

Explanation:
Meghalaya has become the first state to deliver India’s first Cherry Blossom Festival, widely celebrated in Japan

  • The 4 day festival will showcase the beauty of pink and white cherry blossoms and the traditional arts and culture of the state
  • Chief Minister Mukul Sangma inaugurated the first Cherry Blossom festival in Shillong
  • This is appreciated in partnership with the Institute of Bio resources and sustainable development for joint conceptualisation of Meghalaya as a major tourist destination
  • IBSD is a national institute of the centre’s Department of Biotechnology
  • Cherry Blossom Festival is also called Sakura Festival in Japan
  • It is held in April every year
  • The other countries which celebrate this festival include Australia, Korea, China and the US
  • The Washington DC Cherry Blossom Festival generates USD 126 million each year
  • The festival will set the stage for 2017 in India, which has been declared by the UN as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development