R-Day Lalbagh flower show to pay tributes to Gandhi

This Republic Day, the Lalbagh flower show will be dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi.

After a series of meetings, the horticulture department has decided to replicate the Gandhi statue located in between Vidhana Soudha and Vikasa Soudha.

The department will showcase 12 different aspects of Gandhi in the garden. M Jagadish, Joint Director, Parks and Gardens, Lalbagh, said as
Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary will be celebrated in 2019, it has been decided to pay tributes to the Father of the Nation.

A statue of him seated will be recreated at the centre of the glass house. In the front and back, replicas of Sabarmati Ashram (in Ahmedabad) and Rajghat (in Delhi) will also be created.

The department will also create floral replicas of the famous idol of Gandhi spinning the wheel. However, it is yet to decide on the location where it will be placed.

Another famous replica of him leading the Dandi march will also be created.

“This is the first time in the history of the flower shows and Lalbagh that a tribute to Gandhi is being paid. However, people will not be allowed to pay tributes at the Rajghat replica here. Only VVIPs can pay tributes on the inauguration and on special days,” Jagadish said.

The department is now preparing the list of flowers required to create. Their idea is to use as many different species of flowers as possible the officials said and added that the theme had nothing to do with politics.