Shillong: Shillong remains a hub for competition this week. Live auditions for the NE Star: Ultimate Music Talent Hunt kicked off Thursday at Highland Toyota in Mawiong Rim. The event draws local musicians from all over Meghalaya. It is managed by Unitex Inc. in partnership with the Indian Performing Right Society and powered by Toyota. The contest coincides with Highland Toyota celebrating 15 years in the state.
Toyota Kirloskar Motor State Head GS Madhusudana noted the event helps local artists. "The initiative aims to provide an expansive platform for grassroots musical talent in the Northeast," he said. The top two acts move on to the Grand Finale in Guwahati on September 27. Officials will post the results on the NE Star Instagram account on September 16.
Education firms are also looking for top performers. Aakash Educational Services Limited just launched the 2026 Aakash National Talent Hunt Exam. Students from Classes V to XII can win cash prizes totaling Rs 2.5 crore and scholarships up to 100 percent. The test evaluates aptitude and analytical reasoning. It gives students an intelligence report covering exam potential and personality. Offline tests run October 11, October 25, and November 1. Online testing occurs between October 27 and November 1. AESL reports that over one crore students have participated over the last 16 years.
Meanwhile, the academic circuit saw a showdown in the classroom. Army Public School won the 6th All Shillong Inter-School Quiz Competition at the Laban Bengalee Boys’ Higher Secondary School auditorium. Satyam Sharma and Wangaal Lama beat out 12 other schools. BK Bajoria School took second place. The host school finished third. Professor Nicholas Jyrwa served as the quizmaster for the event.
Updated at 12th September 2026 at 1:49am
City streets are getting quieter. East Khasi Hills District Magistrate Abhilash Baranwal banned unmonitored amplified performances in public market zones. Noise checks found levels exceeding safe limits by up to 12.1 dB(A) in spots like GS Road. Performers must now stick to acoustic, unplugged instruments or move to designated cultural zones. The state pollution board is on the beat to enforce the ban, with potential criminal charges under the Environment Protection Act or Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for those who ignore the order.
In Tura, police registered a case after a video surfaced showing people allegedly skinning a pig alive at an unlicensed meat shop. West Garo Hills officials are investigating the incident following a complaint from PETA India. The local Food Safety office also tagged the shop for operating without a license and failing to handle livestock properly.
Consumer wallets might get some breathing room. Vegetable prices in Shillong are dropping as supply lines stabilize following the end of the Assam floods. Vendors in Laban, Laitumkhrah, and Polo report more consistent shipments, though prices still fluctuate based on wholesale costs and daily availability. Laban currently holds the lowest prices for staples like brinjal, cauliflower, and tomatoes.
Politicking is heating up for the Shillong parliamentary by-election. Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong hit the campaign trail for NPP candidate Dr. DRL Nonglait, telling voters in Maweit that the government remains fixed on phased, systematic development.
Moviegoers will see price changes at Galleria Anjalee Cinema. The state government hiked ticket rates, now ranging from Rs 200 to Rs 500 depending on the seating class. The new flex-rates include GST and stay locked in for three years.
The academic and cultural calendar remains packed. Matri Sangha Dayamayi Kalimandir in R&R Colony kicked off its golden jubilee year. Meanwhile, USTM hosted the first memorial lecture for former Chief Minister Dr. DD Lapang, honoring his legacy in Ri-Bhoi district with an essay competition.
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