200th flower show at Lalbagh from August 8

The 200th edition of the popular flower show at Lalbagh will begin on August 8. Floral replica of the Mysore Palace and re-creation of Dasara festivities will be the highlight of the event.

Briefing the media on Wednesday, Dr K Ramakrishnappa, Director of Horticulture Department said this year’s Independence Day flower show would be the 200th hosted by the department at Lalbagh. 

“To make it a grand success, we will showcase a 27 feet high Mysore Palace. It will be 45 feet in length and 12 feet in width. It will be created with three lakh red, yellow and white Dutch roses. We are recreating the whole Dasara procession with elephants, golden Howdah carrying the idol of goddess Chamundeshwari, with four horses and six armed soldiers.” The event will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on August 8.

He said that ten experienced workers have been working for over 15 days on the floral creations. 

Other attractions

Another attraction will be a floral pineapple with flowers punched into it. A vertical garden, 60 feet wide and 10 feet tall, is also being created with over 5,000 plants. There will also be a photo gallery near the Glass House with photographs of VIPs who had visited Lalbagh in the past. On August 9, Governor K Rosaiah’s wife K Sivalakshmi Rosaiah will inaugurate the Ikebana, Indian Floral Art Vegetable Carving and Bonsai exhibition at the Dr M H Marigowda Memorial Hall. The M H Marigowda Herbal Garden having over 200 endangered medicinal plants will also be launched on the occasion.

Security to be tightened

The flower show held in January this year saw as many as 3.65 lakh visitors. During the 200th show, over four lakh visitors are expected. To ensure security of the visitors, over 30 CCTV cameras are being installed at strategic places. Over 250 security personnel will be deployed, including Lalbagh security, local police and home guards. 

Visitors will have to pass through doorframe metal detectors and hand-held metal detectors. Five temporary police chowkis will be set up near the entrances and the Glass House. For safety reasons, people have been advised not to send or bring children on August 15, when the number of visitors is expected to be the highest, said Dr Ramakrsihnappa. 

Parking restrictions

There will be no entry for vehicles inside Lalbagh during the show, even for morning walkers. Only school buses and school vehicles will be allowed through the Double Road gate on August 13- 14. People will have to park their vehicles at the Shanthinagar bus stand multi-storied parking area and vehicles coming from JC Road can be parked at the BBMP multi-storied parking area.