Republic Day flower show blooms at Lalbagh Gardens

About 10 lakh people expected to visit the annual event

The Republic Day flower show was kicked off at Lalbagh Gardens on Friday.

A myriad of flowers of various hues, decorated in the form of a pagoda, the Buddha among others, vied for attention on the first day. Inaugurating the show, Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda said it was a welcome change for him from his tedious routine. “This flower show is so beautiful that I want to forget the pressures of my routine and lose myself here,” he said.

Last year, about six lakh people visited the show, and this time around, about 10 lakh people are expected at the show, the chief minister said. The government will provide sufficient infrastructure to the Horticulture University in Bagalakot, he added.

Dutch floral designer Ton Van Jaarsveld presented his ideas on creative flower arrangement, which attracted many visitors. This was organised in association with Florence Flora organisation.

“This is being organised to show that exotic flower arrangement can be made with flowers available around us, at a minimal cost. Many of us are not aware of the flora in our own regions,” said Rownak Ghutghutia, an employee of Florence Flora.

Representations of various dance forms of India through flower arrangements was part of the show that captured the viewers’ imagination. Kuchipudi, Dandiyaras, Dollu, Kathakali and many more dance forms were represented through colourful flowers. The centre of the glasshouse at the Lalbagh was adorned with a Pagoda, atop which stood a Buddha statue, all built in white and yellow roses.

Next to them stood a huge pot made of flowers, out of which poured millions of flowers...like a stream. “I liked the ‘flower falls’ and the display of marigold at the show,” said seven-year-old Akshay Mishra, who didn’t want to leave the premises.

Salim, employed with an IT firm in the City, said he visited the show every year. He said that more effort had gone into the show this year and that he immensely liked the idea of the Pagoda and the Buddha.

“It’s beautiful. This time, it’s different from the past years,” he told Deccan Herald. Horticulture department Principal Secretary Vanditha Sharma, director P Hemalatha, and others were present on the occasion.