Dasara flower show: Stone chariot, capsicum peacock draw crowds

The much-awaited Horticulture (Flower) Show, one of the major attractions during the 10-day Dasara celebrations, is once again drawing huge crowds, right from day one.

Both the entrances of the show, Kuppanna Park, has been tastefully decorated — vegetable carving of goddess Chamundeshwari on one side and a huge replica of peacock made of capsicum weighing 1.5 tonne in red, yellow and green colour.
The Horticulture Department, which comes out with new ideas of creating replicas of popular monuments and others, has recreated a replica of the 16th century Hampi’s stone chariot.

Flower decorators from Mysuru and Bengaluru — Umashankar and Agarwal — have joined hands to bring alive the stone chariot in Mysuru. About 1.5 lakh roses in red, yellow, white, orange and pink with green ferns in between, measuring 16.5 foot in height, 12 foot wide and 36 foot in length, is the much photographed structure on the premises. It has the statues of Krishnadevaraya and Yoga Narsimhaswamy on either sides.

The selfie craze was visible on the spot, with almost every person seen taking pictures in the backdrop of flowers of various hues.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, C R Krishna Kumar, Senior Assistant Director for of Horticulture, said the flower show has 70,000 pots with more than 20 varieties of flowers. They have adopted a colour theme — Vibgyor — in the musical fountain this year. There will be five shows every day, with each capsule consisting of five songs, he said.

About the stone chariot, he said the artists have worked for more than 15 days to complete the structure. The 1.5 lakh Dutch roses that have been used will be replaced on the fifth day of the show, to retain freshness up to the last day, he said.

Film units
As an attraction, members of different film units will visit the flower show everyday and felicitate identified farmers, in an effort to encourage them.

At Curzon park

As part of the show, the department has organised various interaction programmes and competitions at Curzon Park. Interaction on sustainable agriculture, financial literacy, training in processing of agriculture produce, kitchen and terrace gardening from October 16 to 21. Experts will provide necessary advice. Royal scion Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar and his mother Pramoda Devi Wadiyar have confirmed their presence for the prize distribution ceremony, scheduled to be held on October 24, Krishna Kumar said.

Mysuru Zilla Panchayat, College of Horticulture and others have set up stalls on the premises. There are also

stalls selling farming equipment, fertilisers, seeds, saplings, honey and natural produce.