I-Day flower show registers good footfall

Namma Metro connectivity, Kuvempu theme attributed to surge

There is a big leap in number of visitors to this year’s Independence Day flower show at the Lalbagh Botanical Garden.

While some attribute this increase in footfall to Metro rail connectivity, Horticulture department credits it to the theme of this year’s show.

Horticulture department themed this year’s show around Rashtrakavi Kuvempu and recreated floral Kavishaila, a monument dedicated to the Jnanpith awardee near Kavimane at Kuppali in Shivamogga district. Kuvempu was the first Kannada poet to be honoured with India’s highest literary award in 1967.

Another reason for the increasing footfall is the recreation of the Jog Falls in the Glass House.

“People are excited about the show, especially because of Kuvempu. The photo gallery with some of the rare photographs is also drawing scores of people. The craze for taking selfie in the Glass House, especially of Kuvempu sitting on his chair outside his house, many cutouts and the Kavishaila are big hit among the crowd,” he said. 

Prabhas Chandra Ray, Commissioner, Horticulture Department, told DH, A total of 45,000 people visited Lalbagh on Sunday, of which 38,781 were adults and 6,084 children. This is 5 -10% higher than that of last year. In total 65,000 people visited Lalbagh in the last three days to see the 206th flower show.

The department earned a revenue of Rs 36.3 lakh from ticket sales in the last three days. On Sunday alone, it earned Rs 24.5 lakh from ticket sales. “We are hoping that the crowd will increase in the coming days,” Ray said.

An official from the department added that the number looks less because many are coming by Metro. Use of the Metro rail has reduced number of vehicles in various designated parking spaces, he said.