Pagoda to adorn Lalbagh

As many as 1.5 lakh roses, 1.5 lakh carnations, 25,000 bunches of orchids, 7,500 foliages, mainly asparagus, dracera, leather leaf ferns etc will form a pagoda, that will come up at the Glass House as part of Republic Day flower show this year.

Coinciding with the centenary of the Mysore Horticultural Society, the flower show will have world peace as its theme.

The Horticulture Department has planned a floral tribute to Gautam Buddha with the South Korean pagodas as the base for the decoration.

However, the decision to have the South Korean pagodas as the basic structure was met with some criticism. But the department officials dismissed the criticism and said the pagodas were chosen for their attraction and to send a message to the world about peace.

Besides, the pagodas can be decorated with flowers in a structured manner unlike many other complicated landmarks in the country, said an officer of the Department.

Buddha statue
Atop the pagoda which will be 30-foot tall and with a radius of 34 feet, there will be a nine-foot Buddha statue, to be erected on a pedestal.

The pagoda and the statue will be built by 100 expert florists from Upahar Florist group. The fabrication of the structure will be done by 25 trained fabricators for 10 days.

A team of special officers from Ooty of the Horticulture Department will give a fillip to the Lalbagh Glass House.

“We will even be having cranes and ducks to adorn the Lalbagh lakebed to attract children,” said the Director for Horticulture, P Hemalatha. Different types of dances depicted through rare and attractive flower arrangements will be taken up by another private florist company, Mandara School of Floral Art.

The Horticulture Department was, however, tight-lipped on the expenditure for the mega show.

This year, the Department has decided to attract sponsors to ensure that the Mysore Horticultural Society does not entirely depend on the government for monetary support.

“With the intention to increase the private participation in the flower show, we have decided to attract more sponsors for the show,” said Hemalatha.

Stalls from Kerala, TN
The show will also have stalls from neighbouring states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Car entry fee hiked
Bangalore: With nearly 10 lakh people expected to visit the flower show this year, the entry fee for cars has been increased by Rs 10.

The hike in entry fee has been effected to manage the parking space inside Lalbagh. However, entry fee for common people will remain the same.

There will be no fee for schoolchildren on the Republic Day, albeit only on producing their ID cards. On other days, children will have to pay Rs 10.  The 10 days of the show will have two Sundays and one closed holiday, Republic Day.

Revised entry fee
                                      Working days         Holidays
For Adults                         Rs 30                   Rs 40
Children                            Rs 10                   Rs 10
Car with one person            Rs 50                   Rs 60
Car with two persons          Rs 80                    Rs 100
Car with three persons        Rs 110                 Rs 140
Car with four people            Rs 140                 Rs 180
Car with five people            Rs 170                 Rs 220
Car with six people            Rs 200                   Rs 260
Car with seven people        Rs 230                  Rs 300
Car with eight people          Rs 260                 Rs 340
Tempo Traveller                  Rs 380                   Rs 480